THE KANDY PROGRAM OF ACTION : COOPERATION
BETWEEN NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
Workshop on National Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations:
Working in Partnership
Kandy, Sri Lanka
26 - 28 July 1999
1
Introduction
1.1
Members of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
and non-governmental human rights organisations met in Kandy in the presence of
observers from United Nations agencies, governments and international nongovernmental organisations, to further their cooperation in the promotion and
protection of human rights in the region. The Workshop took place in the context of
increasing activity on the strengthening of human rights institutions and on the work
of NGOs. This work has included the establishment of the Forum itself, the series of
United Nations-sponsored workshops on regional arrangements in the Asia Pacific
Region and a range of subsidiary meetings aimed at implementing agreed technical
cooperation projects. The Workshop was one of the projects identified by regional
governments as part of their technical assistance program under the auspices of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. This reflects the importance
of multiparty cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights.
1.2
Organisations represented at the Workshop expressed their appreciation to the
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka for hosting the meeting and for their
hospitality. The Workshop also expressed its appreciation to the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights for cosponsoring the Workshop with the Asia
Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the Asia Pacific NGO
Human Rights Facilitating Team. The Workshop expressed its appreciation to the
Office of the High Commissioner and to the Governments of New Zealand and
Australia for providing financial support for the Workshop.
1.3
Organisations represented at the Workshop thanked presenters, facilitators and
rapporteurs for their contributions.
1.4
Organisations represented at the Workshop expressed satisfaction that it had
been organised in a co-operative manner, with full opportunity having been given for
input by both national institutions and non-governmental organisations.
Organisations urged that this cooperative spirit should be carried forward into work of
national institutions and NGOs at the national and international levels.