The World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna, Austria two years ago was hailed as a milestone in recognizing women's human rights, reaffirming the universality and indivisibility of human rights, emphasizing the importance of human rights education, calling for the creation of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, among other achievements. There was a declaration of commitment on the part of governments to realize the resolutions of the conference through the implementation of national plans of action. There was also a huge parallel gathering of non-governmental organization representatives whose work greatly helped keep significant human rights issues on top of the conference agenda.
Since then, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has been created, the Decade for Human Rights Education has been declared, three world conferences have been held that dealt with human rights issues (population conference in Cairo, social development conference in Copenhagen, and the women's conference in Beijing), and some states in Asia-Pacific are already considering the creation of national human rights institutions.
Despite these developments, however, the sad truth about the state of human rights in Asia-Pacific remains. Widespread violation of human rights continues unabated.
There are lingering questions: how can human rights violations be minimized? how can all human rights in different socio-economic-political and cultural contexts be realized?
With renewed mandate from the recent world conferences and with renewed enthusiasm on the realization of human rights, what is there in the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific?
This is basically the issue raised in the recently concluded experts meeting organized by HURIGHTS Osaka.
There is a strong call for reforms within the United Nations system so that it can effectively respond to the widening needs of states for technical assistance, as well as effectively monitor the compliance of states on their obligations under international human rights instruments. Likewise, there is a strong call for the establishment of regional and national human rights institutions in the Asia-Pacific to address human rights problems.
Asia-Pacific is the most populous region in the world, with the most diverse socio-cultural, economic and political regimes, with vast geographical boundaries, and with the most promising regional economy of all. Majority of its States have not ratified most of the international human rights instruments. There is hardly any reason that can prevent a stronger United Nations role in promoting human rights in this region.
The United Nations' role is as valid as the role of national institutions (government or otherwise) in realizing human rights. One of the United Nations' important tasks therefore is to facilitate the promotion and realization of human rights at the national level. To do this, it must be within reach of the general public who are the holders of human rights - especially those whose rights are either violated or have no chance of being enjoyed in real and meaningful sense. The United Nations has to provide the means to make its services much more felt by marginalized communities in the region. Then and only then will the United Nations be able to serve the interest of the people in whose name it was established.