NHRC Member, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph attends <br> IPU Seminar in Manila

Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, Member, NHRC represented NHRC, India at the Seminar for Asia Pacific Parliaments and Human Rights Institutions in the region organized by the Senate of Philippines and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in collaboration with the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at Manila, Philippines from the 26th - 27th February, 2015
The theme of the Seminar was 'Translating International Human Rights Commitments into National Realities: The Contribution of Parliaments to the Work of the U.N. Human Rights Council'. The Seminar was attended by more than 80 representatives of Parliaments and Human Rights Institutions from about 20 countries of the Asia Pacific Region.
The Seminar discussed the possibilities of better cooperation between Parliaments, local governments and other human rights stakeholders, including the NHRIs and civil society in protecting and promoting human rights.
Justice Cyriac Joseph addressed the Seminar on 'Protection of Human Rights at the National Level: Strategies for Enhanced Parliamentary Contribution'. He pointed out that the main function of the Parliament/ Legislature is to make laws and that legislation is an important means of protecting and promoting human rights. He regretted that many of the parliamentarians do not have sufficient awareness about human rights. He criticized the parliamentarians for failing to take keen interest in legislation and to effectively supervise and monitor subordinate legislation and proper implementation of the laws. He called for a more pro-active role of parliamentarians in the protection of human rights.