LAHORE, June 10: The writers of South Asian Peace Charter, led by Radha Kumar, director general of the Delhi Policy Group, visited on Monday the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) for interaction with women activists.

The writers, drawn from all South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) have prepared a draft of Charter for Peace in South Asia and circulated it for soliciting views of peace activists, media and intelligentsia.

Recalling the founding principle of the United Nations to ‘save succeeding generations from the scourge of war’ the draft reaffirms the guiding statement of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation that “in an increasingly interdependent world, the objectives of peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in the South Asian region by fostering mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful cooperation among the Member States which are bound by ties of history and culture”.

“Reiterating our recognition of the common aspirations for just peace of the peoples of South Asia and the need for joint action and enhanced cooperation towards this end, the draft recognizes that increased cooperation, contacts and exchanges among the countries of the region will contribute to the promotion of peace and understanding among their peoples,” reads the draft. — Staff Reporter