KATHMANDU, Nov 11: On the eve of the 18th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the People´s SAARC, a regional body of the South Asian civil society, is organizing a three-day mega event beginning November 22.
Organizing a press meeting in the capital, the Coordinator of the People´s SAARC Sharmila Karki informed that more than 70 thematic regional issues such as violence against women, youth unemployment, human trafficking, and migration, among others, will be discussed during the function.
The event is being held with the slogan ´People´s Movement Uniting South Asia for Deepening Democracy, Social Justice and Peace´. Karki said a declaration will be issued on behalf of the South Asian civil society at the end of the event.
“As we all know that various accords reached between the SAARC member states are still awaiting implementation, we will try to find out weaknesses of the SAARC during the ´People´s SAARC,” she said, adding,” We will put pressure on SAARC leaders to implement agreements signed in the past.”
Karki further informed that the declaration will be handed over to the SAARC secretariat just ahead of the SAARC Summit to be held on November 26 and 27.
Human rights activist Gopal Siwakoti, who is also a member of the People´s SAARC, said SAARC member states should include human rights in the SAARC Charter. “Human rights of common people should be included as an important aspect in the SAARC Charter,” Siwakoti added.
