IMO News Service
New Delhi: South Asian Minorities Lawyers Association (SAMLA), an association of lawyers committed to promotion of rights of minorities in South Asia, has announced it will give SAMLA Harmony Awards 2012 eminent journalist Kuldip Nayar and eminent parliamentarian and diplomat Syed Shahabuddin at a function to be organised on May 8, 2013 at 4.00. pm at Indian Law Institute, opp. Supreme court, New Delhi.
A discussion on "Democracy, Elections and Minorities" would also be held on the occasion. "The discussion would be aimed at deliberating extensively on state of democracy, electoral system, electoral process and their impact on rights of minorities in the South Asian region in general and India in particular," said Salar M. Khan, Programme Coordinator, in a press release.
Feroz Khan Ghazi, SAMLA General Secretary, said, "SAMLA believes that protection of minorities' rights is necessary to attain peace and prosperity in the region. In order to advance awareness about the need to realize rights of minorities in the South Asian region in general and India in particular, South Asian Minorities Lawyers Association (SAMLA) instituted SAMLA Harmony Awards in 2011. The awards are to be conferred annually on two personalities or institutions, one from minorities and another from majority community, who have made significant contribution for protection and promotion of rights of minorities."
"Fundamental principle of substantive democracy is the protection of the rights of minority. A substantive democracy ensures fair participation of all segments of society, including minorities. Further, in a substantive democracy, the state and society understand the need and right of minorities to maintain their unique identity – national, religious, ethnic, or other, their heritage, and their culture, and protect this right. Practical functioning of a democracy has a direct relation with the method of elections. It is the model of elections and the process of elections that determine the level of minorities’ participation in the governance," stated Mr. Ghazi.
New Delhi: South Asian Minorities Lawyers Association (SAMLA), an association of lawyers committed to promotion of rights of minorities in South Asia, has announced it will give SAMLA Harmony Awards 2012 eminent journalist Kuldip Nayar and eminent parliamentarian and diplomat Syed Shahabuddin at a function to be organised on May 8, 2013 at 4.00. pm at Indian Law Institute, opp. Supreme court, New Delhi.
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| Syed Shahabuddin |
Feroz Khan Ghazi, SAMLA General Secretary, said, "SAMLA believes that protection of minorities' rights is necessary to attain peace and prosperity in the region. In order to advance awareness about the need to realize rights of minorities in the South Asian region in general and India in particular, South Asian Minorities Lawyers Association (SAMLA) instituted SAMLA Harmony Awards in 2011. The awards are to be conferred annually on two personalities or institutions, one from minorities and another from majority community, who have made significant contribution for protection and promotion of rights of minorities."
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| Kuldip Nayar |