FORUM-ASIA is proud to present Regional Human Rights Mechanisms in South Asia: Past efforts and ways forward.

The report presents the varied snapshots of the human rights situations across South Asian counties, the need for a regional human rights mechanism, progress that has been made and opportunities moving forward.

It is crucial that a regional human rights mechanism is established in a region home to almost two billion people. A regional mechanism has the potential to bridge international human rights standards and national mechanisms.

A regional mechanism is necessary to assist in the implementation of internationally recognised human rights norms and standards at the national levels, and to facilitate a regional solution to a human rights problem that triggers regional consequences.

Greater protection of human rights within a region can ultimately result in enhanced regional peace, security and development. There is a strong incentive for governments to promote and protect human rights regionally when severe violations of people’s rights can lead to conflicts and instability in neighbouring countries.

For the PDF version of this publication, click here.

This report was produced with the assistance of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).