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.

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