The UN, he said, has thus put on the map, the notion of group rights. Dr. Ghai, among other things, pointed to the importance of having a regional system for the protection of group rights. This is important because of the difficulty in achieving universal norms on these issues which could be applied individually. In Europe a consensus exists on dealing with minorities. Besides, ethnic differences are a major cause of instability in South Asia.
Countries also look to regional institutions for guidance on issues pertaining to group rights.
Kim state relations are of fundamental importance in Asia on account of the wide dispersion of ethnic groups. These factors strengthen the case for a regional system for the ensuring of group rights. We need some understandings from other regions to guide us in South Asia, Ghai said. There are no binding norms in Europe but the institution of the High Commissioner of Minorities is important in this endeavour of promoting minority group rights in that region. For the High Commissioner, preventive intervention is important in low-intensity conflicts.