The land of Ginghis Khan

I was in Mongolia for 10 days (19 August - 28 August 2005) to participate a regional training on International Human Rights Law and Advocacy. It was held in Ulaanbaatar (the capital city of Mongolia) from 21 to 23 August. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), a Geneva-based NGO was the organiser. It was a small scale training workshop, which consisted around 15 participants. The training emphasized on international human rights system and the role of national human rights institutions can play in acting as a national protection mechanism for human rights defenders.

From 24 to 26 August, I attended another formal regional meeting, Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions (APF). It is a regional body that supports, through regional cooperation, the establishment and development of national institutions in order to protect and promote the human rights of the peoples of the region. I attended the meeting as an observer. SUHAKAM commissioners, Tan Sri Simon Sipaun and Dato' KC Vohrah were the official representatives from Malaysia. Picture shows the APF participants were having dinner in a Mongolian ger.

After all the meetings had over. I finally had an opportunity to enjoy the summer breeze and the beautiful countryside of Mongolia. The vast steppe is unimaginable for people from Malaysia like me. Generally, Mongolia is a beautiful country. However, poverty is one of the biggest problems that Mongolia people are facing.

Till today, Gingis Khan is living vividly in the heart of many Mongolians. As a sign of respect to the great Mongol conqueror, I had bought a botol of Mongolian vodka that was named after him ;p