Clips from the Press

   
Spirits of freedom, solidarity to bolster human rights: Amartya
FE Report
December 13, 2002

Back to Clip Index

Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen said Thursday freedom and values of solidarity are very important elements required for establishing human rights in South Asia. Addressing a meeting on "A Citizens’ Social Charter for South Asia" at the Brac Centre in the city, he observed that plurality was an important matter in the practice of human rights theories. Jointly organised by the South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS) and Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), the meeting was addressed, among others by, former chief of the caretaker government Justice Habibur Rahman and eminent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain with CPD Chairman Rehman Sobhan in the chair. Describing laws as the child of human rights, Amartya said real laws take root from real life. Imaginary laws are for the imaginary life, he added. He also pointed out that nurturing, monitoring and advocacy were the effective ways for establishing human rights. Laying utmost emphasis on freedom and solidarity, the Nobel winner said individual freedom and values of solidarity between one human being and another are needed to cope with the challenges against human rights. He, however, felt that legalisation was not the only solution towards the establishment of human rights. Giving an account of their efforts to establish broad-based cooperation among the South Asian nations, Rehman Sobhan said a strong civil society has been working to achieve the stated objectives.