HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OPENS WORKSHOP ON REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

10 July 2007

As part of her official visit to Indonesia, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today opened the 14th Annual Workshop of the Framework on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific region. The opening ceremony of the workshop was also attended by Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.

The workshop, which brings together representatives from 32 Member States, 13 national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, is being hosted by the Government of Indonesia in Bali from 10 to 12 July 2007.

The workshop is part of an ongoing dialogue on regional cooperation in four priority areas which are: 1) National Human Rights Action Plans; 2) National Human Rights Institutions; 3) Human Rights Education; and 4) the Right to Development and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Asia-Pacific region currently has no regional framework or mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights.

The theme of this year’s workshop is human rights and extreme poverty. In her address, the High Commissioner stressed the value of a human rights based approach to poverty reduction strategies and the special role for national institutions and courts in upholding economic, social and cultural rights.
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For use of the information media; not an official record