Sub-Regional Workshop on National Inquiries
A four-day sub-regional workshop on National Inquiries was hosted by the National Human Rights Commission, India from October 29 to November 1, 2007. Jointly organized by the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, University of Lund, Sweden, the Workshop aimed to provide the representatives with a step by step understanding of the process of conducting National Inquiries.
Inaugurating the Workshop, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, NHRC highlighted the challenges faced by the Asia Pacific Region. Referring to the progress in the Region on Millennium Development Goals, he said that though the Region was forging ahead on many fronts, yet uneven progress between and within countries existed. He said that the issues of child mortality, malnutrition, improving maternal health, providing safe drinking water and sanitation were major challenges. The Chairperson, brought to the notice of the participants the rise in income inequality and said that the benefits of rapid economic and social development need to be distributed equally.
Referring to the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), he said that they act as a bridge between the Government and the civil society. The Chairperson said that the Commission's strategy of National Inquiries had been successful. He touched on the issues of Right to food, torture, custodial violence, rights of mentally ill, poverty and cultural rights.
Prof Brian Burdekin from RWI, the lead programme facilitator said that National Inquiries were one of the important effective tools which the National Institutions have for addressing systemic discrimination and violation of human rights.
The four-day deliberations included a number of issues like National Inquiry on the Right to Food, National Inquiry on Human Rights and Mental Illness, National Inquiry into accessible public land transport for people with disabilities, National Inquiry on torture, National Inquiry into homeless children and National Inquiry on the Right to Health. The deliberations also shared the experiences of other regions with the examples of national inquiries. The sessions were chaired by the NHRC Members, Dr. Justice Shivaraj V. Patil; Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao; Shri R.K. Kalha and Shri P.C. Sharma; Shri Damodar Sarangi, Director General (Investigation), NHRC and Shri Chaman Lal, Honorary Representative NHRC.
Formal seminars and group exercises provided participants with a practical 'how to' strategies on-setting up a national inquiry, including choosing the inquiry subject, establishing terms of reference, developing an appropriate methodology and undertaking sufficient planning and preparation; resourcing a national inquiry, including the involvement of Commissioners and staff, financial resources and community resources; educating and informing the community, including strategies for working with journalists and the media; planning following activities and advocating for the inquiry recommendations.
In his concluding remarks on the last day of the Workshop, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, NHRC highlighted that no one could refuse the findings of National Inquiries which were based on sound methodology, proper research, participation of senior authorities in the government at Central, regional and local level as well as the general public, civil society organizations and media. He said that public consultation was one of the tools employed to improve transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of the policy.
Prof Brian Burdekin said that the interactions between NHRC India and other NHRIs at the Workshop, would help to face the challenges of human rights violations. He said India with its diversity and complexity was able to solve the problems of human rights violations and others especially South Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America can learn.
Shri Y. S. R. Murthy, Director Research, NHRC, gave the vote of thanks. The Workshop was attended by the representatives of NHRIs from Afghanistan, Maldives, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, RWI and APF besides the hosts NHRC, India.
Inaugurating the Workshop, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, NHRC highlighted the challenges faced by the Asia Pacific Region. Referring to the progress in the Region on Millennium Development Goals, he said that though the Region was forging ahead on many fronts, yet uneven progress between and within countries existed. He said that the issues of child mortality, malnutrition, improving maternal health, providing safe drinking water and sanitation were major challenges. The Chairperson, brought to the notice of the participants the rise in income inequality and said that the benefits of rapid economic and social development need to be distributed equally.
Referring to the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), he said that they act as a bridge between the Government and the civil society. The Chairperson said that the Commission's strategy of National Inquiries had been successful. He touched on the issues of Right to food, torture, custodial violence, rights of mentally ill, poverty and cultural rights.
Prof Brian Burdekin from RWI, the lead programme facilitator said that National Inquiries were one of the important effective tools which the National Institutions have for addressing systemic discrimination and violation of human rights.
The four-day deliberations included a number of issues like National Inquiry on the Right to Food, National Inquiry on Human Rights and Mental Illness, National Inquiry into accessible public land transport for people with disabilities, National Inquiry on torture, National Inquiry into homeless children and National Inquiry on the Right to Health. The deliberations also shared the experiences of other regions with the examples of national inquiries. The sessions were chaired by the NHRC Members, Dr. Justice Shivaraj V. Patil; Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao; Shri R.K. Kalha and Shri P.C. Sharma; Shri Damodar Sarangi, Director General (Investigation), NHRC and Shri Chaman Lal, Honorary Representative NHRC.
Formal seminars and group exercises provided participants with a practical 'how to' strategies on-setting up a national inquiry, including choosing the inquiry subject, establishing terms of reference, developing an appropriate methodology and undertaking sufficient planning and preparation; resourcing a national inquiry, including the involvement of Commissioners and staff, financial resources and community resources; educating and informing the community, including strategies for working with journalists and the media; planning following activities and advocating for the inquiry recommendations.
In his concluding remarks on the last day of the Workshop, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, NHRC highlighted that no one could refuse the findings of National Inquiries which were based on sound methodology, proper research, participation of senior authorities in the government at Central, regional and local level as well as the general public, civil society organizations and media. He said that public consultation was one of the tools employed to improve transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of the policy.
Prof Brian Burdekin said that the interactions between NHRC India and other NHRIs at the Workshop, would help to face the challenges of human rights violations. He said India with its diversity and complexity was able to solve the problems of human rights violations and others especially South Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America can learn.
Shri Y. S. R. Murthy, Director Research, NHRC, gave the vote of thanks. The Workshop was attended by the representatives of NHRIs from Afghanistan, Maldives, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, RWI and APF besides the hosts NHRC, India.