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Human Rights and HIV/AIDSand autonomous National Human RightsCommission for the effective enforcementas well as protection and promotion ofhuman rights conferred by the Constitutionand other prevailing laws.Bangladesh has also initiated moves toconstitute an independent Human RightsCommission. The law, justice andparliamentary affairs ministry is in theprocess of finalising a draft legislation,which will also fix the terms of referenceof the proposed commission. Accordingto the draft, the commission wouldinvestigate the allegations of human rightsviolation and take necessary actions asper the existing provisions of law.Since 1986, the Human RightsCommission of Pakistan (HRCP) hasplayed a leading role in providing a highlyinformed and independent voice in thestruggle for human rights and democraticdevelopment in the country. It is anindependent, voluntary, non-political,non-profit making, non-governmentalorganisation. One of the main functionsof HRPC is to work for the ratification andimplementation by Pakistan of theUniversal Declaration of Human Rightsand of other related charters, covenants,protocols, resolutions, recommendationsand internationally adopted norms.Strengthening of social capitalThe poor development of social capitalin South Asia has severely limitedthe progress with regard to dealingwith HIV/AIDS, as societies remainentrenched in gender inequities, casteand class-based violence, religiousfundamentalism, violations of the rightsof marginalised populations and anoverall environment of intolerance.Provisions for strengthening, for example,educational systems, infrastructuralfacilities and local governancemechanisms would contribute significantlyto enriching the social, cultural andeconomic environment of communities.This, in turn, would have a favourableimpact upon the indices for developmentat macro levels.Role of parliamentarians 79Parliamentarians can play a key role atthe local, national and regional levelsin initiating dialogue and legislativeaction on HIV/AIDS and human rightsissues, as well as mobilising financialresources to support HIV/AIDSprogrammes. They can work at severallevels.l As political leaders, they can influencepublic opinion, and can increasepublic knowledge of relevant issues.l As legislators, they vote on acts ofParliament and can ensure thatlegislation protects human rights, andadvances effective prevention andcare programmes.l As advocates, they can mobilise theinvolvement of government, privatesector and civil society to dischargetheir societal responsibilities inresponding appropriately to theepidemic.l As resource mobilisers, they canallocate financial resources to supportand enhance effective HIV/AIDSprogrammes that are consistent withhuman rights principles.An important regional initiative is thesetting up of the SAARC MedicalParliamentarians, which held a meetingon reproductive health, STDs andHIV/AIDS in Kathmandu, Nepal, in May1998. The meeting issued a Declarationon the Prevention and Control ofHIV/AIDS. The Declaration asked parliamentariansto take a stronger role inadvocacy at the regional, national,and community levels. The meetingalso recommended the establishmentof a regional forum of SAARCThe poordevelopment ofsocial capital inSouth Asia hasseverely limited theprogress withregard to dealingwith HIV/AIDS, associeties remainentrenched ingender inequities,caste and classbasedviolence,religiousfundamentalism,violations of therights ofmarginalisedpopulations and anoverall environmentof intolerance.Regional Human Development ReportHIV/AIDS and Development in South Asia 2003 113