asia-pacific human rights information center (hurights osaka) jefferson r. plantilla
TRANSCRIPT
Asia-Pacific Human Rights InformationCenter (HURIGHTS OSAKA)
Jefferson R. Plantilla
Background
In 1983, a Japanese United Nations officer made a plea for Japan to help promote human rights in Asia-Pacific on the strength of the local people and the government.
That plea started a decade-long lobbying and preparation for the establishment of a human rights center with Asia-Pacific focus.
Background
The 1983 plea could have been influenced by the United Nations resolution to explore the establishment of a regional human rights mechanism in the Asia-Pacific.
The 1982 Asian workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka was the first of such regional initiatives of the United Nations on human rights protection and promotion in the Asia-Pacific.
December 1994- formal opening of the Asia-Pacific
Human Rights Information Center
Characteristics
HURIGHTS OSAKA
- established on the strength of the civil society movement and local governments in Osaka.
- a local institution with a regional (Asia-Pacific) perspective.
Support from the United Nations
Objective
To promote human rights in the Asia-Pacific in support of the proposal for the establishment of a human rights mechanism in the region.
While the idea of a regional human rights mechanism for the whole Asia-Pacific has largely been set aside, promoting human rights in the region by itself is a necessity.
Elements
Resources on human rights - how to manage them toward practical use
Linkages on human rights - how to maximize their existence byo Avoiding overlapo Creating complementary synergyo Facilitating mutually energizing efforts.
Concerns
How to:
Demystify human rights
Attract attention to human rights
Recognize and popularize human rights practices
Provide practical materials on human rights
HURIGHTS OSAKA
INFORMATION CENTER SYSTEM
- Publications - newsletters, books, education materials
- Internet/online information - e-mail listserv and website
- Seminars and discussion sessions- Participation in meetings, workshops
and conferences- Training activities- Study tours
Dissemination of Information
Documentation- Experiences and perspectives
Research- Educational policies
Research- Educational policies
Research- Educational policies
Other research projects- Human rights and culture- Human rights and law, jurisprudence- Human rights and development
Publications- Education materials
Publications- Human rights education
materials
Special Project- Human rights centers
in Asia-Pacific
Wiki version
Website version
Publications- quarterly newsletter
Website
Training Workshops, Conferences, Meetings
2006 Conference on Human Rights Education
2005 South Asia Workshop
2005 Southeast Asia Workshop
2011 Northeast Asia Meeting
Regional Program Implementation
a. Subregional approach - program undertaken through partners in each subregion
b. Programmed activities for each subregion - steps consist of 1) consultation workshop, 2) training workshop, 3) material development, and 4) training workshop
Partners
1. Non-governmental organizations2. National human rights institutions3. Government agencies - Ministry of
Education4. Human rights centers 5. International organizations
Working with Other Institutions
Asian Consortium for Human Rights-based Access to Justice
Asia-Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding
FORUM Asia
Domestic Activities
Publications
Domestic Activities
Video/DVD
Human Rights Centers
1. Provide information 2. Undertake research3. Hold activities (meetings,
symposiums, training workshops, etc.) for the general public or specific sectors
Human Rights Centers
Types:• NGO centers• University-based centers• Government-supported centers
Human Rights Centers in Asia-Pacific
Human rights centers in Asia-Pacific
- NGO-based- University-based- Government-supported
Source: Directory of Human Rights Centers in the Asia-Pacific - www.hurights.or.jp/english/directory-of-
hr-centers.html
Human Rights Centers in Asia-Pacific
Years in Operation
Centers Established per Year
Human Rights Centers in Asia-Pacific
Source: Directory of Human Rights Centers in the Asia-Pacific - www.hurights.or.jp/english/directory-of-hr-
centers.html
Some Notes on the
Human Rights Centers Focus on different concerns (human rights issues,
human rights work, specific rights) Promotion by different institutions (Ministry of Law
and Justice - Indonesia, national human rights institutions - Philippines and South Korea, NGOs)
Involvement of varied fields (academic, human rights practice, governance)
Existence at various levels - local, national, regional levels
ChallengesPolitical environment• existence of government policies that violate
human rights in some countries• lack of continuity in policies and programs
Socio-cultural environment• “Asian values” debate
ChallengesLack of coordination• Existence of resources that are not shared
to appropriate institutions• Lack of mechanisms for such sharing of
resources• Continuing lack of trust among government
and non-governmental entities
Final Notes
Human rights centers• Must be able to cross networks/fields/sectors to
obtain and disseminate human rights resources
• Must be able to dig out “gems” (human rights resources) that exist in various forms and in the files of various institutions
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