Human Rights Declarations
Overview
The long history of Asian civilizations provides historical proclamations that relate to human rights. Ancient declarations that speak of rights, freedom, and justice seem to be coming mainly from political leaders. Cyrus of the Persian civilization is credited for proclaiming freedom of religion and freedom from enslavement. These were recorded in a small clay cylinder known as the Cyrus Edict sometime after 539 BC, after conquering Babylon.[i] Later on, in India, another political leader issued edicts declaring, among others, the duty of rulers to serve the welfare of their people, much like the principle of state obligation to protect and realize the human rights of the people. He also approved of people having their own religion as long as their practice the essence of religion. These edicts are known as the Ashoka Rock Edicts issued by King Ashoka in 304-232 BC.[ii]
Declarations
1. Declaration of Human Rights in Japan [Suiheisha Declaration] (1922)
2. Declaration of the Basic Duties of ASEAN Peoples and Governments (1983)
3. Draft Pacific Charter of Human Rights (1989)
4. The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (1990)
5. Draft Philippine Declaration of Human and People's Rights (1990)
6. Human Rights Declaration by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO) (1993)
7. Final Declaration of the Regional Meeting for Asia of the World Conference on Human Rights (1993)
8. Malaysian Charter on Human Rights (1994)
9. Our Common Humanity - Asian Human Rights Charter (1998)
10. The Human and Peoples' Rights Declaration of the Philippines (2001)
11. The Ambedkar Principles (2009)
Conference Declarations
2. Conclusions and Recommendations of the Experts Meeting on Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific (1995)
3. Beijing Statement of Principles of the Independence of the Judiciary in the LAWASIA Region (1995)
5. The Osaka Declaration (1998)
8. Neemrana Declaration (2000)
9. Declaration of the Asia-Pacific NGO Forum (2001)
11. Colombo Declaration (2002)
12. ASEAN Declaration Against Trafficking in Persons Particularly Women and Children (2004)
13. Kathmandu Dalit Declaration (2004)
14. Ridoypur Declaration of Fourth SAARC Peoples' Forum (2005)
15. Manila Declaration for a 21st Century Independent Judiciary (2005)
16. Dalit Rights Kathmandu Charter (2007)
17. Turning up the Volume - Mekong Youth Raise their Voices against Human Trafficking (2007)
