South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) is a regional organization with a South Asian membership base consisting of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, political workers and leaders, social activists as well as human rights organizations committed to promoting human rights, peace and democracy in the region. SAHR was formed as the result of a convention held at Neemrana, India, in July 2000
convened by a five-member committee comprising Mr. Gujral, former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Kamal Hossain from Bangladesh, Dr. Devendra Raj Panday from Nepal, Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy from Sri Lanka, Mr. Kuldip Nayar from India, and Mrs. Asma Jahangir from Pakistan to discuss the possibility of a South Asian regional human rights organisation. The SAHR Secretariat is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. SAHR believes in fostering and feeding movements for democracy, human rights and peace that subscribe to international human rights norms and are committed to using peaceful means for their realization. It is committed to finding and adopting approaches for the promotion of human rights that are compatible with the concept of pluralism and give due recognition to multiple South Asian identities and the rich diversity of cultures.
