asia-pacific human rights information center (hurights osaka) jefferson r. plantilla

Asia-Pacific Human Rights InformationCenter (HURIGHTS OSAKA)

Jefferson R. Plantilla

Background

In 1983, a Japanese United Nations officer made a plea for Japan to help promote human rights in Asia-Pacific on the strength of the local people and the government.

That plea started a decade-long lobbying and preparation for the establishment of a human rights center with Asia-Pacific focus.

Background

The 1983 plea could have been influenced by the United Nations resolution to explore the establishment of a regional human rights mechanism in the Asia-Pacific.

The 1982 Asian workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka was the first of such regional initiatives of the United Nations on human rights protection and promotion in the Asia-Pacific.

December 1994- formal opening of the Asia-Pacific

Human Rights Information Center

Characteristics

HURIGHTS OSAKA

- established on the strength of the civil society movement and local governments in Osaka.

- a local institution with a regional (Asia-Pacific) perspective.

Support from the United Nations

Objective

To promote human rights in the Asia-Pacific in support of the proposal for the establishment of a human rights mechanism in the region.

While the idea of a regional human rights mechanism for the whole Asia-Pacific has largely been set aside, promoting human rights in the region by itself is a necessity.

Elements

Resources on human rights - how to manage them toward practical use

Linkages on human rights - how to maximize their existence byo Avoiding overlapo Creating complementary synergyo Facilitating mutually energizing efforts.

Concerns

How to:

Demystify human rights

Attract attention to human rights

Recognize and popularize human rights practices

Provide practical materials on human rights

HURIGHTS OSAKA

INFORMATION CENTER SYSTEM

- Publications - newsletters, books, education materials

- Internet/online information - e-mail listserv and website

- Seminars and discussion sessions- Participation in meetings, workshops

and conferences- Training activities- Study tours

Dissemination of Information

Documentation- Experiences and perspectives

Research- Educational policies

Research- Educational policies

Research- Educational policies

Other research projects- Human rights and culture- Human rights and law, jurisprudence- Human rights and development

Publications- Education materials

Publications- Human rights education

materials

Special Project- Human rights centers

in Asia-Pacific

Wiki version

Website version

Publications- quarterly newsletter

Website

Training Workshops, Conferences, Meetings

2006 Conference on Human Rights Education

2005 South Asia Workshop

2005 Southeast Asia Workshop

2011 Northeast Asia Meeting

Regional Program Implementation

a. Subregional approach - program undertaken through partners in each subregion

b. Programmed activities for each subregion - steps consist of 1) consultation workshop, 2) training workshop, 3) material development, and 4) training workshop

Partners

1. Non-governmental organizations2. National human rights institutions3. Government agencies - Ministry of

Education4. Human rights centers 5. International organizations

Working with Other Institutions

Asian Consortium for Human Rights-based Access to Justice

Asia-Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding

FORUM Asia

Domestic Activities

Publications

Domestic Activities

Video/DVD

Human Rights Centers

1. Provide information 2. Undertake research3. Hold activities (meetings,

symposiums, training workshops, etc.) for the general public or specific sectors

Human Rights Centers

Types:• NGO centers• University-based centers• Government-supported centers

Human Rights Centers in Asia-Pacific

Human rights centers in Asia-Pacific

- NGO-based- University-based- Government-supported

Source: Directory of Human Rights Centers in the Asia-Pacific - www.hurights.or.jp/english/directory-of-

hr-centers.html

Human Rights Centers in Asia-Pacific

Years in Operation

Centers Established per Year

Human Rights Centers in Asia-Pacific

Source: Directory of Human Rights Centers in the Asia-Pacific - www.hurights.or.jp/english/directory-of-hr-

centers.html

Some Notes on the

Human Rights Centers Focus on different concerns (human rights issues,

human rights work, specific rights) Promotion by different institutions (Ministry of Law

and Justice - Indonesia, national human rights institutions - Philippines and South Korea, NGOs)

Involvement of varied fields (academic, human rights practice, governance)

Existence at various levels - local, national, regional levels

ChallengesPolitical environment• existence of government policies that violate

human rights in some countries• lack of continuity in policies and programs

Socio-cultural environment• “Asian values” debate

ChallengesLack of coordination• Existence of resources that are not shared

to appropriate institutions• Lack of mechanisms for such sharing of

resources• Continuing lack of trust among government

and non-governmental entities

Final Notes

Human rights centers• Must be able to cross networks/fields/sectors to

obtain and disseminate human rights resources

• Must be able to dig out “gems” (human rights resources) that exist in various forms and in the files of various institutions

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