Summary
Contents
This book traces economic and political issues through SAARC’s thirty-year journey. Topical and well-researched, this collection provides a comprehensive assessment of SAARC and provides policy directives for the future. The book points out the issues and constraints that have hindered regional cooperation in South Asia. It establishes that despite being democracies, there has been little effort by member nations to promote regional cooperation in the public domain. It stresses that in view of the increased role that countries wish to play in globalisation, economic cooperation is the way forward. The book further argues that political will is the pivot on which the prospect of regional cooperation revolves.
Chapter 15: Developing A Regional Human Rights Mechanism
Developing A Regional Human Rights Mechanism
Founding SAARC
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was initiated in 1985 by the leaders of seven countries1 with specified objectives2 to:
- promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and improve the quality of their lives;
- accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realise their full potential;
- promote and strengthen collective self-reliance amongst the countries of South Asia;
- contribute to mutual trust, understanding and the appreciation of one another's problems;
- promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields;
- strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;
- strengthen cooperation amongst themselves in international forums on matters ...
