General Press Statements

26^th June 2012

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) joins human rights activists around the World, in commemorating the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This year, the day marks the 25^th anniversary of United Nations Convention Against Torture coming into effect.

Despite the fact that this Convention has been in force for a quarter century, only 147 States are party to it. Of the South Asian states, all but Bhutan have signed it, and India is yet to ratify the Convention.

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, joins the messages of solidarity expressed throughout the world to mark International Women’s Day on March 8^th, 2012.

This year, International Women’s Day is inspired by the theme of “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”. While this is a day for solidarity among women and a celebration of their accomplishments, it is also a day to remind the world that equal rights and opportunities for women are human rights imperatives and inalienable rights of women.

On behalf of the members of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a democratic regional network of human rights defenders committed to the protection and promotion of human rights at both national and regional levels, we welcome the convening of the 17^th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Addu, Maldives from 10^th–11^th November 2011.

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, joins the messages of solidarity expressed throughout the world to mark International Women’s Day on March 8^th, 2011.

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) extend warm greetings to all friends who will be commemorating the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” yet today, the fight against violations of human rights remains a daily struggle for millions around the globe. This year with the focus on “human rights defenders who act to end discrimination” this day aims to highlight and promote the achievements of human rights defenders and will intend to inspire a new generation of defenders to speak up and take action.

The rich diversity of cultures and religions seen in the South Asian region should help to strengthen fundamental human rights in all communities. Instead we are faced with armed conflicts which lead to the breakdown of infrastructure and civic institutions, to greater human suffering and increased poverty, which are ultimately the violations of the rights of people. Every year, thousands of people are imprisoned for political reasons, often without charges or trials. Torture and ill‐treatment by law enforcement agencies are common, and have lead to many deaths in custody. Hundreds more are victims of extra‐judicial executions or forced “disappearances”. Gender injustice is seen in all South Asian countries and minorities continue to face serious threats and are frequently excluded from effective and meaningful participation in the economic, political, social and cultural life of their countries.

New Delhi

13 to 15 September, 2010

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a network of human rights defenders and concerned citizens, held a three day meeting on “Challenges to Peace and Prospects for Cooperation in South Asia” at the India International Centre, New Delhi, from the 13th-15th September, 2010.

The meeting:

1. Expressed sympathy and solidarity with the people of Pakistan on the devastation caused by the floods, and regretted that no collective action had been taken by SAARC or other regional bodies to provide support, whereas natural or man made calamities in any South Asian country must be treated as a matter of regional responsibility.

2. Expressed grave concern at the erosion of democracy and rise of authoritarianism in Sri Lanka after the war, and delay in settlement of Tamils interned in camps and called for a return to democratic norms and a humanitarian approach to internees problem. Regretted the role of other South Asian countries in not supporting the UN Human Rights Council proposal for an enquiry into war crimes.

On behalf of the members of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a democratic regional network of human rights defenders committed to the promotion and protection of human rights at both national and regional levels, we welcome the convening of the Summit of Heads of State of SAARC countries in Thimphu from 28^th – 29^th April 2010.

South Asians share a common history and culture of tolerance and pluralism. Our ideals represent the principles of peace, democracy, secularism and human security as the basis of our diverse nationhoods. But our region remains backward and one of the poorest because of our divisiveness and intolerance of differences.

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) extend warm greetings to all friends who will be commemorating the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This year with the focus to embrace diversity and end discrimination the adoption marks a historic milestone in the evolution of our common understanding, and affirmation, of values we deem inviolable: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” yet today, the fight against discrimination remains a daily struggle for millions around the globe.

The rich diversity of cultures and religions seen in the South Asian region should help to strengthen fundamental human rights in all communities. Instead we are faced with armed conflicts which lead to the breakdown of infrastructure and civic institutions, to greater human suffering and increased poverty, which are ultimately the violations of the rights of people.

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) expresses solidarity on the international day for the eradication of poverty on 17th October 2009. Over the last five years, in an era of unprecedented global wealth creation, the number of people living…