Asia Pacific Forum Meeting

Mr. Ambuj Sharma, Secretary General, NHRC attended the 22nd Annual General Meeting and Biennial Conference of Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, NHRIs at Bangkok, Thailand from the 29th - 30th November, 2017.
During the course of discussions, several aspects relating to the human rights issues and strengthening of NHRIs in the region were discussed. In this context, the UN development programme representative elaborated about the strategic plan (2018-2021). Mr. Sharma also attended a session on the impact of conflict on Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and role of NHRIs. The main recommendations of this group were that IDPs and Externally Displaced Persons, EDPs should be properly recognized as a vulnerable / disadvantaged section of population by the governments; they may be given some sort of preferential treatment by way of financial concessions to overcome their handicap and specific budget / financial allotment of funds for their needs. The APF representative requested NHRIs to consider taking part along with their national delegations in the deliberations/sessions at UN, wherever the issues having closed linkages with human rights are discussed.