DELHI
DECLARATION
August
26-27 2014
In the face of a shrinking space for dissent and freedom of
expression and the climate of perpetuating a security apparatus driven culture
of impunity, this exciting journey from Kathmandu to Dhaka, Kabul, Lahore and finally,
Delhi, has been a journey to ensure peace with justice for all. Responding to
the invitation from the Task Force for the Regional Initiative for a South Asia
Human Rights Mechanism,over 100 participants from over 20 states in India
arrived to participate in a two-day Consultation (August 26 and 27, 2014), joined
by friends and colleagues from Nepal, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
We resolved:
Reaffirming the fundamental
principles of human rights and dignity for all, we the participants, re-dedicate
ourselves to building a bond of citizenship based on the incorporation of human
rights as a core principle and the recognition of international human rights
standards and instruments and treaties as the benchmark for the protection and
preservation of human rights for all;
Salutingthat the countries of South
Asia have been linked by age-old cultural, social and historical traditions as
also have strong similarities and distinct and diverse cultures, in terms of
the evolution of their political economies with colonial and post-colonial
histories;
Assertingthat the countries of the
region have adopted numerous international instruments on human rights,
including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UDHR], theInternational
Covenant on Civil and Political rights (ICCPR] and the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights [ICESCR].
Recognising that the core principles
of integrity in composition, independent functioning, participation of
individuals and people’s movements and a strong enforcement mechanism that is
enabled with fair reporting by state constituents, we resolve to work towards
such an entity which is a comprehensive inter-state human rights mechanismas
our end goal; in this connection call on all governments, particularly the
government of India to work collectively towards the establishment of a robust
South Asia human rights mechanism.
Resolvingthat given the acutely
confrontational posturing by states in the South Asian region and the
inconsistency with which the institution of SAARC has been allowed to function
by member states, we the people of South Asia dedicate ourselves, in the
immediate and interim to the establishment of a credible, People’s/Citizens
South Asia Human Rights Council;
Mindfulthat the credibility and efficacy of such a
mechanism including its Vision Charter must be evolved within a specified time
frame after more intensive regional consultations with all the multiple constituents,
professional bodies, individualsand human rights groups and people’s movements in
the region:-
We the
people of South Asia, representing various human rights movements affirm our
commitment towards this process of the establishment of such a Council that
will in composition, representation and vision reflect the diversity of this
vast region;
That
this Council will through its Charter and Functions actively work towards the
promotion and protection of human rights for all in the region including the
threats posed by aggressive militarization and nuclearisation in the name of
security; the human rights of nomadic and migrant populations, bonded labour,
informal and rural workers, persons of disability; women and children who are
victims of trafficking, migrant and indigenous labour, sexual minorities, fish
workers, South Asian asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons; the
protection of the rights of all including populations who suffer fromgender, religion
and caste-based discrimination; cross border issues including the conduct of
security forces and paramilitary and basic economic and social and cultural rights
including inalienable rights of all peoples towards natural resources;reform in
the criminal justice system geared towards peace and justice; and violations in
the name of national security and counter terrorism;
That no
issue that concerns human rights will be beyondthe purview of the Council;
That
part of the exercise of its establishment will be to preserve existing and
create new records, evidence and documentation of all the work towards this end
that has been developed in past decades across the countries of this region;
That
the Calendar of Activities of this Council will give equal emphasis to matters
of human rights violations and protection through the establishment of
Tribunals and their recommendatory judgements/conclusions as also Educational
and Cultural Programmes related to the preservation of the Environment and our
shared Cultures;
That
part and specific to this mandate will be the creation of an Alternate Methods
and Means of Communication to link the concerns of Human Rights Preservation
and Protection between and through the Peoples of South Asia.
Resolved that such a
People’s/Citizens South Asia Council will continually and through all its
programmes involve itself with elected representatives, local, regional and
national governments keeping in mind the ultimate goal.
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