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Introduction

Despite constitutional provisions protecting the rights of minorities in countries of South Asia, these guarantees, as well as international human rights obligations, have often remained unfulfilled. This has resulted in violations of the rights of minorities in a number of countries. Lack of respect for minority rights has also fuelled tensions and sown the seeds of conflict involving minorities in South Asia. In some cases, this situation is compounded by the fact that South Asian human rights organisations are often unable to access the judicial system and other domestic mechanisms, and may be confronted with institutions that are unable to respond to their needs. In addition, human rights organisations may lack the necessary tools to access and use the mechanisms at national and international levels to effectively protect human rights. Responding to this situation, Equitas together with the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Colombo have jointly undertaken a two-year project which aims to strengthen the capacity of human rights organisations to protect minority rights and to promote and defend diversity in South Asia.
Capacity Building for Human Rights Organizations to Protect Minority Rights and Promote Diversity in South Asia
Goal and Objectives

This project aims to strengthen the capacity of human rights organizations to protect minority rights and defend diversity in South Asia. Its main objectives are:

  • To strengthen the capacity of human rights organizations to collect, analyze and channel information on issues in South Asia related to the rights of minorities and relevant to diversity and multiculturalism, using a framework based on internationally accepted human rights standards and principles.
  • To develop the capacity of human rights organizations to access and use national and international human rights mechanisms to promote and protect the rights of minorities, as well as promote and defend diversity, in South Asia.
  • To contribute to the development and consolidation of regional and national networks of organizations working on minority issues and diversity.

  • International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • The minority rights project covers several South Asian countries including India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

  • September 2002 to December 2004

  • Members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in South Asia
  • Members of independent National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in South Asia

  • October 2004: South Asia Minority Rights and Diversity Follow-up Workshop
  • October 2003: Regional Workshop on Protecting Minority Rights and Defending Diversity in South Asia

    This project is made possible thanks to:
  • The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
  • The National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
  • The Dutch Organization for International Development Cooperation (NOVIB)
  • Swiss Federal Dept. of Foreign Affairs

 
 
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