Governments in the region should think about ratifying major relevant human rights instruments, said a former Indian Chief Justice.

"Governments may wish to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to all relevant human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and to include in their report to the treaty bodies, consideration of human rights impacts and the implications of globalisation," said Justice PN Bhagwati.

Bhagwati said this at the opening of a three-day United Nations (UN) workshop on human rights and globalisation in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"But if the international human rights instrument provides an appropriate legal framework, we need concrete national examples that would allow us to learn the necessary lessons, and come up with appropriates strategies," he added.

Bhagwati, who is currently serving as the as the Asia-Pacific UN Human Rights Commissioner, also vice-chairs the UN Human Rights Committee.

"Globalisation is indeed a common challenge in realising the right to development and the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights. It would be wrong to disregard the economic benefits that it has brought to many.

"The key question is how globalisation can be shaped in such a way," he said.

Yet to ratify

On April 19, the Human Rights Commision (Suhakam) recommended in its annual report to the Malaysian government to ratify the ICESCR as well as the comprehensive International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

So far, Malaysia has only ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) and the Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC).

Other major human rights instruments that Malaysia has yet to ratify are the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishment (CAT).