The Larrakia Declaration: Conclusions,
Recommendations and Decisions o f the First Asia-Pacific
Regional Workshop o f National Human Rights
Institutions1
DARWIN DECLARATION
Background
The First Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop of National Institutions for the Pro
motion and Protection of Human Rights consisting of representatives of the National
Human Rights Commissions of Australia, New Zealand, India and Indonesia,
meeting in Darwin, Australia, from 8 to 10 July 1996:
Notes with sympathy the death of Mr Ali Said, distinguished chairperson of the
Indonesian Commission,
Reaffirms the commitment of participants to the universal and indivisible rights
declared in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international
human rights instruments which recognise that all human beings are bom free
and equal in dignity and rights and are entitled to equal protection against any
form of discrimination and abuse of power,
Recalls the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action especially its support
for national human rights institutions and the progress made by the international
workshops of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human
Rights held in Paris in 1991, Tunis in 1993 and Manila in 1995, and
Recalls the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and of the
Commission on Human Rights supporting and encouraging the establishment
and development of national institutions and regional arrangements in the AsiaPacific region,
Welcomes the participation in the Workshop as observers of representatives of
governments with national institutions or considering the establishment of
national institutions in conformity with the Paris Principles and encourages
other governments working in that direction,
Welcomes the participation in the Workshop as observers of a number of non
government organisations,
Thanks the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Centre
for Human Rights and the Australian government through AusAID for their
financial and other support for the Workshop.
t
Darwin, Australia, 8-10 July 1996.