Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - COMMONWEALTH HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE (CHRI)
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COMMONWEALTH HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE (CHRI)
CHRI is a non-partisan, independent international non-governmental organisation headquartered in India. Human rights education and advocacy are at the core of all CHRI’s activities, and the aims and ends of its reports and investigations.
Website: www.humanrightsinitiative.org
COMMONWEALTH HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE (CHRI)
Governments all over the world have used secrecy as a way of keeping the ordinary citizen out of the domain of decision-making. And yet for any democracy to be an effective and viable one the citizen must have the right to information. The Freedom of Information Bill passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2002 is far from ideal not least because so far without promulgation it has not been operationalised. Additionally there are too many loopholes in the Bill itself and the discretionary powers of the officials are far too great. And yet it is a step in the right direction. CHRI has been committed to both getting the Bill passed and to ensuring that there is awareness amongst the media, officials, ordinary citizens and NGOs about why the Right To Information is a pre-requisite of a dynamic democracy.
CHRI was born out of an awareness that although Commonwealth countries have shared legal principles and values, little had been done to set human rights standards within the association itself or to promote a culture of human rights. CHRI believes that the promotion and protection of human rights is the responsibility of governments but that the active participation of civil society acting in concert is vital to ensuring rule of law and realisation of human rights. Founded in 1987, CHRI was originally based in London. In keeping with the principle that it should not be informed by a single national perspective, in 1993 CHRI moved its headquarters to New Delhi, India and is committed to opening new offices in various countries. The pan-Commonwealth nature of CHRI’s constituent groups - journalists, lawyers, doctors, legal educators, trade unionists and parliamentarians - ensures for it both an international and national presence. These strategic constituencies highlight issues, bring in expertise and insights into local situations, help to nuance responses and, acting collaboratively, and effectively, catalyze public policy changes in favour of human rights.
Contact
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
B-117, Sarvodaya Enclave,
1st Floor
New Delhi 110017
India
Email: chriall@nda.vsnl.net.in
Contact Person: Ms Maja Daruwala
Website: www.humanrightsinitiative.org
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