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The inaugural session of the sixth meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions was held in Colombo Wednesday. The forum members are expected to discuss a wide range of human rights issues related to the region, during the two-day meeting. Several speakers who spoke during the inauguration emphasised the crucial role the national institutions could play in translating international human rights norms into laws, policies and practices to ensure respect for human rights. Addressing the delegates, the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, Sarath N. de Silva, said, “The mandate of the National Human Rights Institutions would be to evolve basic standards to uphold human rights in keeping with the sensitivities of our region.” Justice P.N Bhagawati Regional Advisor in the Asia Pacific to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the Forum expects to convert “the rhetoric into reality” by addressing the problems of the vulnerable sections in society, especially the women, children and refugees. The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions was established in July 1996 through the adoption of the Larrakia Declaration. It emphasised the importance of cooperation among all actors involved in the protection of human rights.
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