Fourth SAARC Peoples’ Forum, November 2005

  _{The SAARC Peoples Forum is a coalition of popular organisations involved in environment, development, women issues, human rights, issues of trafficking in women and children, livelihood security and food sovereignty in the South Asian countries. The SAARC Peoples forum was convened to facilitate articulation of a common regional voice and to influence government policies in SAARC member countries. The Fourth SAARC Peoples Forum was held during in Sept, 2005, jointly hosted by UBINIG, a policy research organisation, with Odhikar, a Human Rights Organisation in Bangladesh.}

The Fourth SAARC Peoples Forum was held on 28-30 September, 2005 in Tangail, Bangladesh. It was organised by South Asia Network on Food Ecology and Culture (SANFEC) and Resistance Network against Trafficking in Women and Children and hosted by UBINIG and Odhikar. The total 87 participants were from countries of Pakistan, Nepal, India, Malaysia, UK and Bangladesh representing grass root organisations, academia, consumer activists, development organisations, media, farmers, fishers, women activists and lawyers.

Nazrul Islam, November 2005

 
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, established on December 8, 1985, had generated high hopes among millions that the proposed cooperation would help bring betterment for the people of the poverty battered region.
   But, in reality, after two decades of ‘cooperation’ SAARC’s achievements are considered poor and the process for starting any long-term regional projects still remain on the drawing board alone."

Mohammed Mohsin, South Asian Survey, March 2005

read