Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center (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 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 by oAvoiding overlap oCreating complementary synergy oFacilitating 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 - 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 organizations 2. National human rights institutions 3. Government agencies - Ministry of Education 4. 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 research 3. 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 - 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 - 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

Challenges Political 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

Challenges Lack 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

ขอบคุณมาก Kob Kun Ma Krap