The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) conducted an online session on the “National Strategy Consultation on South Asian Regional Human Rights Mechanism” on November 6, 2020.
The South Asian Human Rights Mechanism (SAHRM) will be concentrating on the common human rights challenges faced by all South Asian States. Building the past national and regional consultations on June 2014, August 2015, and April 2017, this consultation will gather FORUM-ASIA’s members, human rights defenders, activists, academicians, former human rights commissioners, and key leaders in Nepal.
The National Strategy Consultation is organized with an aim to critically review and reflect on the on-going efforts towards the establishment of SAHRM. Further, it aims to discuss the need for a white paper on a feasibility study to establish SAHRM, including the preferred and ideal model of human rights mechanism, and explore ways to evolve broad-based advocacy strategies and alliances to respond to these pressing challenges in partnership and collaboration with other actors, movements and stakeholders.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali was the Chief Guest of the program which was chaired by Suresh Dhakal, Treasurer of FORUM-ASIA. The program was facilitated by Bijay Raj Gautam of INSEC and Debendra Prasad Adhikari of FORUM- ASIA.
Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said, “It is ironic for the South Asian government because we do not have a regional mechanism, but other regions have it, hence we have to think seriously and establish it. However, looking at the current South Asian socio-political context it might not be possible to establish human rights mechanisms soon but we can start from some common issues of interest such as human trafficking, migrant workers, and so on.”
Former spokesperson of National Human Rights Commission in Nepal Gauri Pradhan suggested, “Advocacy and lobbying should be done together with NHRIs of south Asian states and organize the annual meeting of CSOs and NHRIs on specific thematic issues of human rights to review and appraise the status of human rights in South Asia”.
Chairperson of National Alliance for WHRD Dr. Renu Adhikari said, “South Asian Human Rights Mechanism is necessary for the protection and promotion of rights of all South Asian people especially the rights of women, girls and the marginalized people.”
Former chairperson of FORUM-ASIA and INSEC Subodh Raj Pyakurel said “FORUM-ASIA and its members have been advocating for the establishment of SAHRM looking at the increasing need for promotion of human rights of the South Asian people. We have done a lot of work in the past so FORUM-ASIA should document all of the intervention and build up advocacy initiative.”
The consultation focused on building consensus among national groups and shape the way forward for advocacy towards the establishment of regional human rights mechanisms. The formation of SAHRM would provide an opportunity for FORUM-ASIA, INSEC, and their partners to share key information and insights with the Government of Nepal, parliamentarians, and SAARC Secretariat.