Dear Antonios,

Australia's aid program supports human rights through a framework of six principles. I won't list them all here as this post is limited to 350 words - however, I'll give you the website where you can get all the detailed information - at the end.

Practical action based on these principles means that the aid program continues to focus on its objective of helping developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. These principles underpin our strong support for civil and political rights throughout our aid work. The aid program seeks to maximise the benefits for human rights in all development assistance activities.

The Government helps promote and protect human rights through supporting grass roots activities for indigenous human rights groups and building the institutional capacity of national human rights bodies.

With Australian support the Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions has provided advice and expertise with the establishment of national human rights commissions in Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia and Thailand.

The number of internationally accredited national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific has grown from four to seventeen since 1996.

The Australian Government has provided $1.72 million since 1995 to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to support its global work on national human rights institution-building.
Australia's monies are directed to technical cooperation activities addressing the promotion and protection of human rights, specifically related to national institutions in the Asia-Pacific region.

Examples of activities funded include: training workshops on investigation of human rights abuses in Indonesia; support for vitims of child trafficking in Thailand; and a popular theatre program to educate poor rural communities in Bangladesh on their legal and human rights.

This website may be of interest to you:

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/humanrights.cfm

FOxyness...

point 2 of that link you gave says this:

# The aid program will continue to undertake activities that directly address specific economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. A particular emphasis will be on the creation of durable institutional capacity to promote and protect human rights.

"Cultural Rights" ?

That's exactly what I was saying in another thread.. but I remain confused about 'who' determines what their cultural rights are ?

You see, Bangladesh is a Muslim society..and they would have some fairly firm ideas about the limits of western concepts of 'cultural/human' rights.

This is a problem.

I'm curious about how you would handle the issue of Muslim taxi drivers who, even after being warned by the relevant authority to take passengers seeing eye dogs etc.. still refuse to do so?

Me.. quite easy.. suspend their licences on the spot. Then....they will whine about 'religious discrimination'... and the circle is complete.

RIGHTS....

Blind rights.
Drinkers rights.
Muslim religious 'rights' (in western non muslim societies)

They are in complete conflict. How do 'you' solve this ?

Dear Boazy,

You don't seem to understand what we are discussing here.

The only thing that I can suggest is that you re-read what the website is all about

We can learn to respect the human rights. When I heard for first time English music or test for first time Chinese food I did not like them. Few years later I have bought English music and I have visited Chinese restaurants. Very easy and very fast I learned to respect their culture. When I started work I was worried how to work with this kind of people, my life was a fight for human rights and democracy, they did not care very much about them. Some years later I found that they are not so bad as I thought and I am not so good as I thought. Slowly, slowly we started to learn and respect each other. I grow up in a very religious family, my grandfather was priest, my nephew is priest , I read many Christian books, for many years I could not accept anything else than the Christian truth. Later I learned to respect other religious truths and finally I become atheist!
Do you see? I learn to respect any religious although I am atheist. I do not care what you believe, this is your personal choice. I respect what you believe because I respect your right to believe what you want to believe. For me you are a human being, you have all the elements to be good, to take the right decisions, what you really need from me is my understanding, my acceptance, soon, very soon you will find your way, do not worry. If I humiliate you, if I bully you, probably I will block your improvement and sure I will make you to hate me. Acceptance and understanding is the best path to learn to respect the human rights and improve our world without problems and big risks.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Dear Antonios,

I am happy that you understand the importance of tolerance, compassion, and understanding. That you obviously believe, as I do in justice, and an egalitarian society with a "Fair go" for all.

Human rights can often seem like a distant, abstract concept divorced from 'real life.' However, human rights and their infringement are grounded in the daily experiences of people, communities and nations.
Just look at the news stories in the papers or on the radio and TV -
stories of murder, violence, racism, hunger, unemployment, poverty, abuse, homelessness, discrimination and despair are ever present.

You are a good man. I wish you success with your future work.

"Carpe Diem."

Boaz,
I can appreciate your point of view and recognise the dangers in defining a right to be determined by a court, especially if it applies to a religious or cultural situation.

Having a "Bill of Rights" does not and has never changed a society! Witness Nations that have introduced such and their record of obedience to such laws.

The individual human heart and attitudes must be self-disciplined to express love and respect of others. Something I find is not practised by many others on this Forum who continually defamation yourself. I know you are a sincere Christian and can suffer persecution from godless minds. Matthew 5: 11 - 12.