Looking for Asia’s turn : a study of (sub)regional human rights mechanisms of South and Southeast Asia through India and Thailand

Abstract

Within the global human rights governance, the regional human rights mechanisms have hitherto come to occupy an indispensable space. Displaying the capacity to span the distance between international and local mechanisms, procedures, and instruments these systems have long been installed in almost all major regions of the world, except that of Asia. From the time of debates on drafting the Universal Declaration to now, the Asian region has been popularly characterised for its approach to human rights. Immersed in diversities and home to almost half of the global population, Asia has experienced some powerful human rights movements, has a vibrant civil society and yet has failed to establish a regional human rights system. However, the hope here comes from the sub-regional mechanism in Southeast Asia and minute strides in South Asia. This thesis therefore employs a descriptive approach to illustrate the existing human rights mechanisms in the South and Southeast Asia through the examples of India and Thailand. Studying these countries on national, regional and international human rights dimensions, provides a complex yet hopeful picture. While the impetus for a regional mechanism is missing, the local institutions display the capacities to flourish if they work in tandem.