Human rights in South Asia are under severe pressure as the entire region is fraught with problems of deep-entrenched poverty, oppressive caste and patriarchal structures, repressive regimes, proliferation of communal forces, ethnic violence, terrorism, etc. Not a day passes, when the rights of the people are not violated either by private or state forces.
With the Universal Declaration of Human Rights completing the 60 years in 2008, it becomes imperative to celebrate and uphold the right to live with dignity.
Image: Victim of communal violence in Orissa/ Photo credit: Asian Centre for Human Rights
06-11-2009The National Assembly of Pakistan has unanimously passed a bill to provide for a higher punishment for sexual harassment. In a rare show of concern for women without a dissent, the lawmakers have expanded the definition of the crime to facilitate prosecution.
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Image: The draft by women activists was introduced in the house early this year by then information minister Sherry Rehman/ Photo credit: APP
06-11-2009Before the resettlement issue is resolved in Sri Lanka, it is not possible for the government to engage in any constructive dialogue to seek political solution for the ethnic problem, feels the Central Bank governor. About 1.5 lakh of the internally displaced are still in camps and the biggest hurdle in their resettlement is landmines, he asserts.
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03-11-2009Journalist Rahul Bedi does a stark recall of India’s 1984 anti-Sikh riots where Hindu mobs massacred 3,000 Sikhs following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards on 31 October. Twenty-five years later survivors await justice.
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Image: Riots victims wait for justice/ Photo credit: Soutik Biswas/ BBC
05-11-2009Violence, exploitation and abuse of children can be brought to an end by creating a protective environment. UNICEF’s report Progress for Children: A Report Card on Child Protection document some improvements in bringing social change, and the challenges in building a safe world for children.
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Image: Cover page of the report/ Photo credit: UNICEF
