HUMAN RIGHT IN ASIA: GENERAL OVERVIEW AND THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION SYSTEM

It is impossible to talk about human rights in Asia Pacific without first acknowledging the region's incredible political diversity. A large array of countries run the gamut of political systems, from the world's largest democracy to some of its most repressive authoritarian regimes. The absence of an intergovernmental human rights mechanisms in Asia, such as a pan-Asian treaty on human rights or an Asian court of human rights, means we must look to other regional responses for addressing human rights concerns on the continent. However, there are interesting developments at the sub-regional level that have a positive influence on the advancement of human rights in Asia. The Asia Pacific community efforts have been particularly intense with regard to a series of issues of priority: campaigns for the abortion of death penalty, protection of freedom of religion or belief, rights of the child, children in armed conflicts, rights of women, fights for the promotion of democracy. SAARC is helping promote cooperation between India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on issues such as rights of children and women and transnational crimes such as human trafficking. ASEAN has adopted declarations and action plans on the rights of children, youth, elderly and women. We should not forget the important role youth have played in Burma. Moreover, a comprehensive and effective strategy to spread protection of human rights is also improving in China. Special attention have the rights of indigenous people, after 20 years after the end of the Marcos dictatorship, in the Philippines. In conclusion, Asian States vary tremendously in terms of their commitment to human rights and there are a number of institutions and NGOs that raise these issues in multilateral forum and in bilateral relations. Media can play a major role in protecting and promoting human rights in the world. It can make people aware of the need to promote certain values in the cause of fundamental human rights which are of eternal value to the mankind. Peace, security, disarmament, promotion of ecological balances and unpolluted environment and ensuring human rights to all irrespective of caste, color and creed should be the minimum common agenda for the media. In examining these issues, the media professionals have different views about the state of media coverage of human rights. The media's ability to cover human rights in a consistent and accurate manner is limited by the proliferation of news outlets, changes in technology, the concentration of news ownership. Media can perform its role in different ways. It can make people aware of the rights, expose its violations and focus attention on people and areas of need in the protection of human rights. Media can also give publicity to the individuals and organizations, which are engaged in securing human rights. Media can inform and educate the people of their rights and suggest ways and tools by which they can empowering their rights' protection. Changes in technology and the modern editorial culture are two factors that influence coverage of human rights. Other factors tend to cause the media to misrepresent or marginalize human rights issues that ought to be reported more completely and truthfully. The key challenge for media professionals is to cover human rights issues accurately and consistently, in ways that give their audience enough background and continuity of coverage to make sense of the events that are reported and to play their parts effectively, journalists, media and human rights organizations need to better understand their different roles and responsabilities. I believe that the fundamental elements for a successful media strategy are Bias (independence is central to the values of journalism), used of biased language (precise and careful use of terms), Non-Instrumentalization of human rights issues for political purposes, tendency to avoid reductionism (human rights coverage tends to be more simple, omitting the variety and complexity of

human rights standards, need to contextualization (human rights issues are rarely put in proper context: historical, social or economical background is often omitted). Human rights organizations have become increasingly active players in the promotion and protection of human rights all over the world societies. International changes over the past decade have placed human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratization and rule of law at the center of international relations and I strongly believe that the international community commitment to human rights has to be based on an approach in which dialogue and openness are founded upon universal principles and values. 2011 has been a time of extraordinary transformation. More nations, as the Arab Spring countries, have stepped forward to maintain international peace and security. And more individuals are claiming their universal right to live in freedom and dignity, as the emblematic case of the election of the Burmese Aung San SuuKyi.

Valentina Gasbarri