The Need for an Asian Convention on Human Rights Inspired by the ECHR Model: An Indian Perspective

The absence of a comprehensive regional convention on human rights in Asia underscores the urgent need for an integrated framework to address the continent’s diverse and complex human rights challenges. Unlike Europe, Africa and the Americas, Asia lacks a binding regional mechanism to uphold and safeguard human rights. A regional convention similar to the ‘European Convention on Human Rights’ (ECHR) in Asia could enhance human rights protection by providing a framework to address human rights violations in India and foster cooperation among member nations to tackle concerns related to human rights abuses in the country. A regional convention on human rights is needed to provide an additional layer of protection and accountability beyond national frameworks. Such a convention would not only fill the existing legal void but also strengthen the commitment of Asian countries. Asian countries should cooperate to draft and adopt a convention that sets clear, enforceable standards for human rights by drawing from international norms while considering regional specificities. An autonomous commission or court should be established to monitor compliance, investigate violations and provide remedies.