Three day APF Annual General Meeting ends with discussion on Action Plan on Women and Girls' Human Rights (05.9.2014)
PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi, 5th September, 2014
The three day long largest human rights event of the Asia Pacific Region, hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of India, ended in New Delhi today, with discussions on Asia Pacific Forum (APF) Action Plan on women and girl's human rights and the work done by the NHRIs in this regard. Some of the commonly raised points of concern by the various APF Member National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) about the human rights of women and girls, included, problems related to patriarchal system, lack of political will and even lack of appropriate laws in some of the countries.
Earlier, in his presentation, Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Member, NHRC, India said that the NHRC, India has been taking cognizance of various issues of rights violation of women and girls and since January, 2011 to 31st August, 2014, 29 thousand 9 hundred 35 cases on women related issues were taken up. Ending of gender-based inequities, discrimination and violence is an over-riding priority in the on-going 12th Five Year Plan of the Government of India. The NHRC, India is making all out efforts in creating awareness among women and girls about the enabling laws and their rights which needed to be supplemented by the National, State and District Legal Services Authorities.
Commissioner General of Jordan National Centre for Human Rights, Dr. Mousa Burayzat and Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia, Ms. Oyunchimeg Purev also made detailed presentations as to how human rights of women and girls, as per APF Action Plan, were being implemented in their respective countries. Other NHRIs also gave a brief insight into the human rights situation of women and girls in their respective countries. The Chairperson, Philippines Commission of Human Rights, Ms. Loretta Rosales, chairing the session said that more study and discussion was needed on the issue of business and human rights for further deliberations.
NHRC, India Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, intervening in the discussion said that since December 16 Delhi rape case, the laws have been made very strict but, despite this, incidents of violation of women and girl's rights, including sexual assault, are happening which is the point of concern.
In his concluding remarks on the three day meet, the NHRC, India Chairperson expressed the hope that the discussions will play a vital role in the implementation of the five strategic objectives of the APF towards promotion and protection of human rights, particularly of the vulnerable sections of the society, for the next five years from 2015 to 2020 in the Asia Pacific Region.
The five finalized strategic objectives relating to human rights included, gender equality, peace and security, business, priority groups, especially - children, women, people with disabilities, older persons, mass movement of people (asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, internally and externally displaced persons). The other objectives endorsed by the Member Institutions included capacity assessment and enhancement, training, advocacy, building communication systems and human rights awareness.
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New Delhi, 5th September, 2014
The three day long largest human rights event of the Asia Pacific Region, hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of India, ended in New Delhi today, with discussions on Asia Pacific Forum (APF) Action Plan on women and girl's human rights and the work done by the NHRIs in this regard. Some of the commonly raised points of concern by the various APF Member National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) about the human rights of women and girls, included, problems related to patriarchal system, lack of political will and even lack of appropriate laws in some of the countries.
Earlier, in his presentation, Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Member, NHRC, India said that the NHRC, India has been taking cognizance of various issues of rights violation of women and girls and since January, 2011 to 31st August, 2014, 29 thousand 9 hundred 35 cases on women related issues were taken up. Ending of gender-based inequities, discrimination and violence is an over-riding priority in the on-going 12th Five Year Plan of the Government of India. The NHRC, India is making all out efforts in creating awareness among women and girls about the enabling laws and their rights which needed to be supplemented by the National, State and District Legal Services Authorities.
Commissioner General of Jordan National Centre for Human Rights, Dr. Mousa Burayzat and Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia, Ms. Oyunchimeg Purev also made detailed presentations as to how human rights of women and girls, as per APF Action Plan, were being implemented in their respective countries. Other NHRIs also gave a brief insight into the human rights situation of women and girls in their respective countries. The Chairperson, Philippines Commission of Human Rights, Ms. Loretta Rosales, chairing the session said that more study and discussion was needed on the issue of business and human rights for further deliberations.
NHRC, India Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, intervening in the discussion said that since December 16 Delhi rape case, the laws have been made very strict but, despite this, incidents of violation of women and girl's rights, including sexual assault, are happening which is the point of concern.
In his concluding remarks on the three day meet, the NHRC, India Chairperson expressed the hope that the discussions will play a vital role in the implementation of the five strategic objectives of the APF towards promotion and protection of human rights, particularly of the vulnerable sections of the society, for the next five years from 2015 to 2020 in the Asia Pacific Region.
The five finalized strategic objectives relating to human rights included, gender equality, peace and security, business, priority groups, especially - children, women, people with disabilities, older persons, mass movement of people (asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, internally and externally displaced persons). The other objectives endorsed by the Member Institutions included capacity assessment and enhancement, training, advocacy, building communication systems and human rights awareness.
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