HR mechanism for South Asia stressed
Speakers at a regional workshop have said South Asia needs a strong human rights mechanism to check gross human rights violations and abuses in the region.
They also discussed human rights challenges in the region and the prospects and opportunities for creation of South Asian Human Rights Mechanism within the framework of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).
The two-day workshop was organised by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-ASIA) and Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) in Kathmandu, Nepal on July 25-26, says a press release.
Subodh Raj Pyakurel, chairperson of Forum-ASIA and INSEC, said the workshop brought together civil society leaders, academicians, and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) to strongly advocate for the mechanism in South Asia.
In his keynote address, Kul Chandra Gautam, former assistant secretary-general of the United Nations, said national human rights mechanism is the most important and effective means to recognise and respect human rights.
The regional mechanism, however, can complement the national mechanism, especially in addressing cross border issues, he said.
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