NHRC nominated to represent Asia Pacific Region at ICC meeting

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission has been nominated to represent the Asia Pacific Region in the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions.

The nomination came at the eleventh annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of the National Human Rights Institutions currently underway in Suva, Fiji.

NHRC is one of the founding members of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Institutions, which presently represents 17 National Institutions from the Asia Pacific Region, including Australia, South Korea and Fiji.

The ICC is a representative body established for the purpose of creating and strengthening National Human Rights Institutions which are in conformity with the Paris Principles.

India is represented at the APF meeting, by NHRC member Shivaraj V Patil and NHRC Joint Secretary Aruna Sharma.

Justice Patil, who presented the report from forum members at the four-day meeting which began on July 31, gave an indepth insight into the working of the Indian Commission.

He highlighted the work done by NHRC during the period from last APF meeting held at Ulaanbaatar, Mangolia in August last year.

Justice Patil referred to the efforts made by NHRC towards realisation of economic, social and cultural rights. He said the Commission has been urging early ratification of the convention against torture and the Indian government has now drafted a bill to ratify the convention.

The member also talked about the Commission's persistent efforts in different fields, including Rights of the Child, Juvenile Justice, Trafficking of Women and Children in India, Eradication of Manual Scavenging, Emergency Medical Care and Right to Food. UNI NR VA PC1452