Joint Statement by AZEECON Members on International Human Rights Day

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2. Joint Statement by AZEECON Members on International Human Rights Day

Kolkata, India (December 10, 2013) - Organizations from 7 countries across South and South East Asia, working to realize the rights of millions of people, joined together in Kolkata, India to mark the 20thInternational Human Rights Day. In line with the call by the UN Secretary General for this year's International Human Rights Day WORKING FOR YOUR RIGHTS, members of the AZEECON (Asian Zone Emergency and Environment Co-operation Network) from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Laos discussed ways and means of strengthening this support to promote the rights of the poorest and most vulnerable at local level upwards. Together these established NGOs work with around 7 million of the most marginalized citizens throughout the region, supporting their empowerment and striving for a better quality of life. They urged their national governments to fulfill their commitment to ensure full protection of rights of their citizens. Pressing challenges such as climate change, and unequal development continue to challenge the basic rights of many vulnerable individuals in rural areas and more needs to be done by AZEECON members. Many challenges remain and we continue to advocate by, with and for the rights of these disadvantaged populations. Human Rights Day was agreed by the UN General Assembly to reinforce the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.