In a letter to Saarc leaders yesterday, they also called for enacting national legislation by member countries providing punishment to violators of human rights and ensuring effective justice to the victims.

The HR activists also urged the Saarc leaders to ratify the Statute of International Criminal Court by all member states and draft a South Asian Charter on human rights.

Meeting in Dhaka on December 19 and 20, the HR leaders from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the host Bangladesh made a five-point recommendations for protection of human rights.

They pointed out that torture committed by various state and non-state actors and the impunity enjoyed by them due to various legal loopholes as well as apathy from relevant institutions to take remedial actions is a matter of serious concern.

They observed that there is hardly any respect for the rule of law as most violators of human rights are immune to their crimes and no justice has been made to the victims who are generally poor.

The HR leaders also pointed out that the main reasons behind such widespread practice of impunity is the desire of remaining in power by all means including the abuse of law enforcement officials and agencies.

They said the Saarc countries are signatories to many international HR treaties but despite that the problems of torture and impunity are rampant in the countries of the region.

To materialise their demands, the HR leaders formed a South Asian Network Against Torture and Impunity (SANTI) with Odhikar of Bangladesh acting as the secretariat of this new regional network.

SAHRDC and CARID of India, CHRHL of Nepal, LHRLA of Pakistan, AHRC of Sri Lanka and Odhikar of Bangladesh are the members of the new organisations.