2007 - The CHR beyond India: International Conferences

Networking and Linkages:

1. Sri Lanka:

Sudha’s Sri Lankan trip along with John Stewart in February 07 was very meaningful and appropriate for raising ‘responsibility” though it was a very short trip. Dr. Nalin Swaris in Colombo was instrumental in contacting the right persons and institutions and taking us to all these people within such a short intimation of our plan. It was our participatory responsibility to present the Charter together in a Buddhist country, which has been going through mindless violence on a daily basis. We had opportunity of sharing the CHR with Institute of Human Rights, Lawyers for Rights and Development, Sarvodaya, Centre for Environmental & Nature Studies and Ecumenical Institute For Study and Dialogue.
Institute of Human Rights has already discussed with President of the BAR Association (BASL) Mr. Nihal Jayamanne to explore the possibility of taking forward the ideas of the charter on Human responsibilities within a legal framework.

FOLLOW UP

The charter was discussed at a human rights forum on rights and responsibilities, which was a session in a human rights course conducted by the Human Rights Institute in Sri Lanka.
Sarvodaya has offered to translate the CHR [1] into Sinhalese.
A series of discussions on the CHR are being taking place among motivated young social researchers group in Sri Lanka.
The young lawyers of Institute of Human Rights and Indian Lawyers Association are in the process of organizing a regional seminar on ‘Public Interest Litigation & Human Responsibilities’ in India. The report has already been sent to website.

2. Pakistan:

A network of NGOs in Pakistan, who are involved with indigenous communities have appreciated the relevance of the CHR and implanting it in their ongoing activities. Disseminated the CHR among several Human Rights activists and individuals.

3. South Asia Peace Alliance (SAPA):

South Asia Peace Alliance (SAPA) is a peace network supported by Quaker Peace & Social Witness, UK, which works in the South Asian region to promote nonviolent actions. It has its core group organizations in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Its member organizations aim at promoting sustainable peace through the philosophy and practice of ‘Ahimsa’ (nonviolence) by addressing structural and other forms of violence that affects a large section of marginalized people across the region. SAPA focuses on regional identity, media and peace education.

In August 2007, Sudha had an opportunity to present the CHR and disseminate it among the core group representing South Asian countries in the meeting held in Gwalior, a historical city in Northern India. It was a very challenging experience to equally emphasize the importance of Responsibility, on the same ground of Human Rights among the minds strongly entrenched in the culture of human rights. SAPA members have realized the need for ethical basis to build sustainable peace. The dialogue has paved the way for further incorporating the CHR in their future activities and for a potential collaboration.

4. Japan:

Where ever a door of opportunity opens in our significant journey, enter! This is what happened in March 07 when Sudha had an opportunity to share the CHR with Prof. John Clammer, a sociologist in UN University, Tokyo, he was convinced of the need to redefine and highlight the notion of Responsibility in a world in which most of the ethical values are largely discarded. He is willing to launch the CHR in Japan and Korea with the coordination of Asian Charter facilitation teams. In association with UN University of Japan, a potential workshop/ seminar at an Asian level on the theme like, “Responsibilities and Ethical Values in a Globalized World” is being considered. This initiative may successfully lead to inter-regional networking.

5. India-China Youth cultural Exchange:

The Charter of Human responsibilities as a basis for India- China youth Charter was presented in an interactive session among visiting young Chinese, Professors and Indian youth in India-China Youth cultural Exchange program in Bangalore in the month of August 07, organized by India-China Youth Forum. Some of the members of Indian Charter Team had an opportunity to interact with Gustavo Marin.

X. International Conferences:

1. International conference –“An Economy in the service of Society”- December 06

PEKEA, Dakar: A paper on ‘[A Feminine Approach to Individual/ Society Interactions->1098’ was presented and the CHR was shared among the academicians and activists.

2. ‘Asia Forum for Solidarity Economy’ in Philippines in October07:

Interaction during the Asia social Forum- Manila

The experience of using the CHR as a means to strengthen women at a grassroots level in their empowerment process was shared through a presentation by Sudha on “Dynamics of Micro Credit and Self-Help Groups of Women at Grassroots and The Role of Charter of Human Responsibilities as a Value Based approach in the Empowerment Process- An Indian Experience” at Asia Forum for Economic Solidarity in Manila in the month of October 07.
Solidarity economy based on ethical and social responsibility was being discussed at length.
The forum has paved way to potential networking for CHR promotion in Nepal, Bangladesh and Japan.

3. Films on Environment in the schools in Manila, Philippines: Sudha was the part of the Charter Facilitation Committee of Philippines in screening the films on Environment in the schools in Manila in October 07.

Filsm in school

4. A South Asian level conference on “South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy” in Mumbai in December 07:

About 40 activists, NGOs, researchers, media persons and politicians from South Asia had come together for 4 days and discussed about interface between ecology, polity and society. One of the sessions focused on ‘the developing civil society and party politics relationship for ecological responsibility’. The politicians from national parties attended had shared the ground realities inside parties and the challenges in front of them as democratically elected representatives of the people. The Charter of Human Responsibilities was disseminated among the participants. The consensus was formed to form a network at the regional level.