The government expects to
finalize a first draft of the National Action Plan for promotion and
protection of human rights shortly. On Tuesday, February 2, 2010, a
combined draft of the National Action Plan was presented to the Minister
of Disaster Management and Human Rights. An inter-Ministerial Committee
will be appointed by the Minister to develop a finalized first draft
from this combined draft, which will be circulated for public comment.
This initiative is aimed at responding to a need for taking stock of the
human rights situation in the country and identifying gaps and
implementing appropriate remedial measures. During the Universal
Periodic Review process at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in May
2008, the Government pledged to develop a national action plan to
improve the human rights situation in the country. The National Action
Plan is the Government's response to the recommendation of The Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on
Human Rights in Vienna, Austria in 1993, which requested each State to
consider the desirability of drawing up a national action plan
identifying steps whereby the State would improve the protection and
promotion of human rights.
This National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human
Rights is the product of many months of consultation and co-operation
involving both government and civil society. In developing the Action
Plan, the Government assessed the measures in place to protect and
promote human rights, identified areas that need improvement.
A monitoring body will be established under the chairmanship of the
Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, to monitor the
implementation of the Action Plan in coordination with the National
Action Plan Steering Committee. Regular reports of progress will be made
available to the public and also to international bodies such as the UN
Human Rights Council.
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