The two-day regional seminar titled “Towards a South Asian Human Rights Mechanism: Prospects and Challenges” ended yesterday at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban in Dhaka University.
The seminar, organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Bangladesh, ended with the Dhaka declaration – an agreement among the Saarc countries to work towards establishing human rights protection mechanism in the South Asian region.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, chief guest Justice ABM Khairul Haque, chairman of the Law Commission, said: “We must keep in our heart the message of human rights, and we must feel it by heart to become a human being. Therefore, we must work together, otherwise no declaration will ensure the rights of people.”
He further said: “We must make people aware of their rights ... If we do not overcome the obstacles, we cannot establish human rights.”
He concluded saying: “If people in the Saarc countries know each other and respect each other, I believe no battle or war will take place in the future.”
Addressing the event, representatives of the participating countries expressed solidarity to work together against all challenges and obstacles for human rights promotion in the South Asian region, where all the countries have some common interests, problems, concern, prospects and challenges while having the same destinations and goals.
The delegates agreed on eight points in the Dhaka declaration, resolving to amplify efforts made by civil society in developing discussions relating to the need for a South Asian human rights mechanism, while enhancing systematic and close cooperation among the national human rights institutions in the region in addressing the common challenges and struggles of the peoples.
The declaration, read by full-time NHRC member Kazi Reazul Hoque, also included supporting and providing constructive inputs to other national human rights institutions in the region towards better protecting human rights at the domestic level, and ensuring fullest cooperation among the national institutions in addressing violations that impact lives across borders.
Besides, it strongly urged each Saarc member states that does not yet have its own national human rights institution to establish one in accordance with Paris Principles. The declaration further stressed strengthening the existing national institutions, collectively advocating with the Saarc member states to establish a robust South Asia Human Rights Mechanism with a mandate for the protection and promotion of human rights.
The participants agreed on convening annual consultation of the national institutions in the region to strengthen collaboration and cooperation among the national human rights bodies. They also discussed protecting children’s rights, focusing on restraining child marriage.
Among the speakers, India’s NHRC Chairperson Shri KG Balakrishnan, Maldives’ Human Rights Commission President Marayam Azra Ahmed, Nepal’s NHRC Commissioner Mohona Ansari, Sri-Lanka’s NHRC Secretary Samanthi, and Afganistan’s IHRC Commissioner Ahmad Zia Langari delivered their parting words, while NHRC Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman made the concluding speech.
