Curtain Raiser for Foundation Day on October. 12, 2006
New Delhi 10th October 2006
The National Human Rights Commission completes thirteen years of its existence on October 12, 2006. The Commission came into being under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of September 28, 1993 which was later replaced by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
Over the past 13 years the Commission has endeavoured to give a positive meaning and content to the objectives set out in the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 for better protection of human rights. The Commission has worked vigorously and effectively all these years to create awareness and sensitizing public authorities for promoting and protecting human rights in the country.
Consistent with its mandate, the Commission has been taking up issues of human rights violation that are of significance, either suo-motu, or when brought to its notice by the civil society, the media, concerned citizens or expert advisers. The primary focus of the Commission has been on strengthening and extension of human rights to all sections of the society. The vulnerable groups and the weaker sections of the society, particularly, are guarded by the Commission against violation of human rights.
The Commission's purview covers the entire range of civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The issues emerging from terrorism and insurgency, custodial death, rape and torture, reform of the police, prison conditions, and other institutions such as juvenile homes, mental hospitals and shelters for women, along with the issues of health care and exploitation of children and their education have assumed special focus and attention.
The Commission has urged the provision of primary health facilities to ensure maternal and child welfare essential to a life with dignity, basic needs such as drinking water, food and nutrition, and highlighted fundamental questions of equity and justice to the less privileged, namely the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the prevention of atrocities perpetrated against them. Rights of the disabled, access to public services by disabled, displacement of population and especially of tribals by mega projects, food scarcity and allegation of death by starvation, rights of the child, rights of women subjected to violence, sexual harassment and discrimination, and rights of minorities, have been the focus of the Commission's action on numerous occasions.
The Commission has taken up the cause of relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants, provision of relief to the citizens who became the victims of devastating tsunami, cyclone and earthquake in certain parts of the country during the past. The Commission has emphasized upon the public authorities in the affected states to ensure equitable distribution of the relief material as well as special attention for protection of the interest of the SC/ST, women and children.
Since inception, the Commission has directed that interim relief to the extent of Rs. 10,47,58,643/- be paid in 707 cases. It has also recommended, in a significant number of cases disciplinary action and prosecution against the public servants who were prima-facie found responsible for their acts of omission or commission resulting in violations of human rights of the people.
The Commission which began with a minimal strength of 44 in 1993, now has a sanctioned strength of 343 officers and staff.
Justice Shri Ranganath Misra was the first Chairperson of the Commission and was followed by Justice Shri M.N.Venkatachaliah and Justice Shri J.S.Verma. The present Chairperson Dr. Justice A.S.Anand joined the Commission in February-2003.
As NHRC completes 13 years, the Commission is organizing a two day celebration to mark the occasion. On 11th October 2006, on the eve of the Foundation Day, the Commission is organizing a cultural evening exclusively for the staff. On Oct 12, 2006 Foundation day function is being organized in the morning at 10:00 A.M., at the FICCI auditorium, Tansen Marg, New Delhi, where Dr. Mohamed EL Said EL Dakkak, Member, National Council for Human Rights, Egypt, will be the Chief Guest.
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The National Human Rights Commission completes thirteen years of its existence on October 12, 2006. The Commission came into being under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of September 28, 1993 which was later replaced by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
Over the past 13 years the Commission has endeavoured to give a positive meaning and content to the objectives set out in the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 for better protection of human rights. The Commission has worked vigorously and effectively all these years to create awareness and sensitizing public authorities for promoting and protecting human rights in the country.
Consistent with its mandate, the Commission has been taking up issues of human rights violation that are of significance, either suo-motu, or when brought to its notice by the civil society, the media, concerned citizens or expert advisers. The primary focus of the Commission has been on strengthening and extension of human rights to all sections of the society. The vulnerable groups and the weaker sections of the society, particularly, are guarded by the Commission against violation of human rights.
The Commission's purview covers the entire range of civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The issues emerging from terrorism and insurgency, custodial death, rape and torture, reform of the police, prison conditions, and other institutions such as juvenile homes, mental hospitals and shelters for women, along with the issues of health care and exploitation of children and their education have assumed special focus and attention.
The Commission has urged the provision of primary health facilities to ensure maternal and child welfare essential to a life with dignity, basic needs such as drinking water, food and nutrition, and highlighted fundamental questions of equity and justice to the less privileged, namely the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the prevention of atrocities perpetrated against them. Rights of the disabled, access to public services by disabled, displacement of population and especially of tribals by mega projects, food scarcity and allegation of death by starvation, rights of the child, rights of women subjected to violence, sexual harassment and discrimination, and rights of minorities, have been the focus of the Commission's action on numerous occasions.
The Commission has taken up the cause of relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants, provision of relief to the citizens who became the victims of devastating tsunami, cyclone and earthquake in certain parts of the country during the past. The Commission has emphasized upon the public authorities in the affected states to ensure equitable distribution of the relief material as well as special attention for protection of the interest of the SC/ST, women and children.
Since inception, the Commission has directed that interim relief to the extent of Rs. 10,47,58,643/- be paid in 707 cases. It has also recommended, in a significant number of cases disciplinary action and prosecution against the public servants who were prima-facie found responsible for their acts of omission or commission resulting in violations of human rights of the people.
The Commission which began with a minimal strength of 44 in 1993, now has a sanctioned strength of 343 officers and staff.
Justice Shri Ranganath Misra was the first Chairperson of the Commission and was followed by Justice Shri M.N.Venkatachaliah and Justice Shri J.S.Verma. The present Chairperson Dr. Justice A.S.Anand joined the Commission in February-2003.
As NHRC completes 13 years, the Commission is organizing a two day celebration to mark the occasion. On 11th October 2006, on the eve of the Foundation Day, the Commission is organizing a cultural evening exclusively for the staff. On Oct 12, 2006 Foundation day function is being organized in the morning at 10:00 A.M., at the FICCI auditorium, Tansen Marg, New Delhi, where Dr. Mohamed EL Said EL Dakkak, Member, National Council for Human Rights, Egypt, will be the Chief Guest.
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