National Human Rights Institutions in the Asia-Pacific Region (The Raoul Wallenberg Institute Human Rights Library)

The purpose of this book is to provide a consolidated collection of materials to facilitate comparison of the various national human rights institutions (NHRIs) already established in the Asia-Pacific region, against a background of selected international materials and with the assistance of several comparative tables. The latter are not intended to be exhaustive, but are designed to assist in identifying and considering the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the legislative mandates of each national institution. While the collection is primarily intended for teaching purposes, it should also be useful to countries considering establishing a national human rights commission or, for those which have already done so, strengthening its mandate. For this reason, several sections have been included outlining the relationship which should exist between NHRIs, the Executive, the Legislature, the Judiciary and other related institutions and a short section on the importance of the process which should precede their establishment. TABLE OF CONTENTS......Page 8 PREFACE......Page 12 GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS......Page 14 1.1. THE EVOLVING INTERNATIONAL ORDER......Page 16 1.2. THE UNITED NATIONS AND NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION: AN OVERVIEW......Page 19 1.2.1. The United Nations......Page 20 1.3. THE 1993 WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS......Page 26 1.4. THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHMENT......Page 28 2.1. MANDATES......Page 32 2.1.1. The Importance of International Instruments......Page 34 2.2. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS......Page 37 NOTE TO THE FOLLOWING TABLES......Page 42 3.1. INDEPENDENCE......Page 58 3.2. ACCESSIBILITY......Page 59 3.3. ADEQUATE RESOURCES......Page 62 3.4. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE INSTITUTION......Page 64 3.5. COOPERATION WITH NON GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS (NGOS)......Page 75 4.1. RELATIONS WITH THE EXECUTIVE......Page 78 4.2. RELATIONS WITH THE PARLIAMENT......Page 80 4.3. RELATIONS WITH THE JUDICIARY......Page 83 4.4. RELATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS......Page 101 5.1. THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY BODIES......Page 104 5.2. SPECIAL PROCEDURES......Page 106 5.3. THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (CHR)......Page 107 6.1. BACKGROUND......Page 110 6.2. THE ASIA-PACIFIC FORUM OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS......Page 113 7.1. ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS......Page 118 7.2. NHRIS IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS......Page 123 7.3. NATIONAL INQUIRIES......Page 127 7.4. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION PLANS......Page 131 CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION......Page 134 APPENDIX I PRINCIPLES RELATING TO THE STATUS AND FUNCTIONING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (THE PARIS PRINCIPLES)......Page 138 APPENDIX II AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS......Page 142 APPENDIX III CESCR GENERAL COMMENT NO. 10: THE ROLE OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS IN THE PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS. (14/12/98.E/C.12/1998/25)......Page 168 APPENDIX IV CERD GENERAL RECOMMENDATION NO. XVII: ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION. (25/03/93. GEN. REC. NO. 17.)......Page 170 APPENDIX V CRC GENERAL COMMENT NO. 2: THE ROLE OF INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS IN THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. (15/11/2002.CRC/GC/2002/2.)......Page 172 APPENDIX VI THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND TARGETS......Page 182 APPENDIX VII THE MAASTRICHT GUIDELINES ON VIOLATIONS OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS......Page 184 APPENDIX VIII THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE (CAT) – PART 4......Page 192 APPENDIX IX SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS......Page 196 APPENDIX X THE HOMELESS CHILDREN INQUIRY......Page 200 APPENDIX XI THE RACIAL VIOLENCE INQUIRY......Page 202 APPENDIX XII SUMMARY OF THE NATIONAL INQUIRY ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND MENTAL ILLNESS......Page 204 AUSTRALIA......Page 210 FIJI......Page 304 INDIA......Page 328 INDONESIA......Page 346 REPUBLIC OF KOREA......Page 374 MALAYSIA......Page 394 MONGOLIA......Page 404 KINGDOM OF NEPAL......Page 416 NEW ZEALAND......Page 428 PHILIPPINES......Page 538 SRI LANKA......Page 544 THAILAND......Page 558 The Purpose Of This Book Is To Provide A Consolidated Collection Of Materials To Facilitate Comparison Of The Various National Human Rights Institutions (nhris) Already Established In The Asia-pacific Region, Against A Backdrop Of Selected International Materials And With The Assistance Of Several Comparative Tables. While The Collection Is Primarily Intended For Teaching Purposes, It Should Also Be Useful To Countries Considering Establishing A National Human Rights Commission Or For Those Which Have Already Done Do, Strengthening Its Mandate.--book Jacket. Ch. 1. Introduction And Overview -- Ch. 2. Mandates Powers And Functions -- Ch. 3. Other Essential Characteristics -- Ch. 4. Relations With The Executive, Parliament, The Judiciary And Other Institutions -- Ch. 5. Cooperation Between Nhris, The International Treaty Bodies, The U.n. Commission On Human Rights And Other Charter-based Mechanisms -- Ch. 6. Regional Cooperation -- Ch. 7. Challenges And Strategies -- Ch. 8. Conclusion -- App. I. Principles Relating To The Status And Functioning Of National Institutions For Protection And Promotion Of Human Rights (the Paris Principles) -- App. Ii. Amnesty International's Recommendation For Effective Protection And Promotion Of Human Rights Institutions -- App. Iii. Cescr General Comment No. 10 : The Role Of National Human Rights Institutions In The Protection Of Economic, Social And Cultural Rights (14/12/98.e/c.12/1998/25) -- App. Iv. Cerd General Recommendation No. Xvii : Establishment Of National Institutions To Facilitate Implementation Of The Convention (25/03/93 Gen. Rec. No. 17) -- App. V. Crc General Comment No. 2 : The Role Of Independent National Human Rights Institutions In The Protection And Promotion Of The Rights Of The Child (15/11/2002.crc/ge/2002/2.) -- App. Vi. The Millennium Development Goals And Targets -- App. Vii. The Maastricht Guidelines On Violations Of Economic, Social And Cultural Rights -- App. Viii. The Optional Protocol To The Convention Against Torture (cat) -- Part 4 -- App. Ix. Special Rapporteurs Of The Commission On Human Rights -- App. X. The Homeless Children Inquiry -- App. Xi. The Racial Violence Inquiry -- App. Xii. Summary Of The National Inquiry On Human Rights And Mental Illness. By Brian Burdekin ; Assisted By Jason Naum. Includes Bibliographical References.