SAHR is a voluntary, democratic, people’s organisation with the following main objectives: To foster the concept of multiple South Asian identities by enabling people to realise their ideals and aspirations for peace, democracy, secularism and human security, while promoting pluralism in approaches towards social, political, economic and cultural development of different communities, ethnic, linguistic, religious and other groups;
Uniform enjoyment of human rights
Realisation of gender equality and justice
Strengthening regional interaction and mutual enrichment in the spheres of education, literature, culture and the arts
Sharing experiences and developing platforms to assert the rights of labour and other working people, and to eliminate poverty and disparities
Challenging all forms of communal and parochial prejudice, bigotry and violence
Humane treatment to migrant workers and refugees and other vulnerable groups who often face discrimination
To struggle collectively for the uniform realisation of the South Asia people’s right to participatory democracy, good governance and justice
To review laws, practices, social and political trends and economic policies which adversely affect human rights and to suggest remedial measures
To monitor and resist the violation of human rights by state authorities and non-state elements
To oppose usurpation of people’s sovereign power and derogation of human rights by state terrorism, religious fanaticism, communalism, militarisation and nuclearisation, and to fight for a nuclear weapons-free South Asia as a step towards a world free of mass destruction
To demand constitutional and legal guarantees necessary to usher in a just society consistent with international human rights norms
To oppose customs whose practice in the name of the “community” or traditional “morality” creates hatred, prejudice and sectarianism; and to assert the primacy of reason, tolerance and mutual respect
To advocate and work towards ensuring adherence to humanitarian norms in all conflict situations
To encourage the building of peaceful border areas between and among the countries of the region without resorting to conflict and violence
To resist and remove all forms of crime including traffic in women and children
To maintain mutually beneficial relations with international agencies such as the UN and SAARC and to promote dialogue and mutual cooperation
To campaign for a common strategy to protect the environment in the region and promote ecologically sound development
Kuwait to Pass Tough Penalties for Expatriate Worker Abuse
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait may bring in tough penalties for employers abusing foreign workers and maids as a result of Western criticism and violent protests by Asian workers demanding better pay and conditions.
STATEMENT ISSUED BY MEMBERS OF SOUTH ASIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE OCCASION OF THE SUMMIT MEETING OF THE SAARC HEADS OF STATE, COLOMBO- SRI LANKA 2ND - 3RD AUGUST 2008
On behalf of the members of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of activists working for human rights at the regional and national levels, we welcome the convening of the Summit of Heads of Government of SAARC countries in Colombo from 2nd to the 3rd August 2008.
While assuring that USA would support crack down on LTTE, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia Richard Boucher yesterday stressed that government should act to stop continuous violation of human rights, disappearances and illegal detention of ...