New Delhi, 3rd September, 2014

A three day-long largest human rights event of the Asia Pacific Region, organized by the National Human Rights Commission of India, began in New Delhi today with the inauguration of the Annual General Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum(APF).

Addressing the representatives of Human Rights Institutions(NHRIs) of 21 countries in the Region, Mr. Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC-India expressed the hope that in the coming time the APF would lead the way in incorporating human rights as a way of life across the region and bringing about a fundamental change to eradicate the scourge of poverty, ignorance, prejudices, and discrimination based on sex, caste, religion, disability and other forms.

He said that it would be vital to create an enabling environment through progressive economic and social policies for the full development of all individuals to enable them realize their fullest potential.

Earlier, Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al -Marri, Chairperson, APF expressed the hope that the tree day discussions will be fruitful in chalking a strategy for the implementation of the Action-Plan for 2015-2020.

Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Member, NHRC-India said that the NHRIs can make an invaluable contribution by protecting the rights of people through an effective monitoring of human rights standards in their respective countries as despite several efforts the multi-faceted challenges continue to remain in the region and the world large for effective realization of human rights.

After discussions on some key issues like APF membership status, practical problems in having a Paris Principle compliant NHRI in the context of a Government in a country, Language barrier in getting APF membership, bringing Kazakhstan into APF as a member with B status and election of members of different APF bodies, the day one of the Meeting ended with a dialogue between the representatives of the NHRIs with the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) of APF Forum Councillors.

Issues of APF strategic planning and APF action plan on women and girls of human rights will be discussed during the next two days of the Meeting.
*****