Curtain Raiser: The President of India to address the Human Rights Day function of the NHRC, India on 10th December

New Delhi, 6th December 2022

Every year on December 10th, Human Rights Day is observed to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It was approved and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on this day in 1948 as a universally accepted value-based document of understanding the importance of the promotion and protection of human rights. Human rights are the inalienable rights that every human being is entitled to from birth, irrespective of race, caste, creed, gender, language, political or other belief or any other status.

The theme of Human Rights Day this year is ‘Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All’ as it marks the entry of UDHR into the 75th year of its existence as well as a year-long campaign to promote and recognize it as the foundation for an expanding system of human rights protection for various sections of society amidst different challenges before humanity.

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India, sees the celebration of Human Rights Day as an opportunity for various stakeholders around the world to reflect on and plan their actions and duties to ensure that they do not become causes of human rights violations.

With this spirit, the NHRC, India is organizing a function to mark the occasion on 10th December, 2022, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The President of India, Mrs Droupadi Murmu, will grace and address the event as the Chief Guest in the presence of NHRC Chairperson, Mr Justice Arun Mishra, Members, Mr Justice M.M. Kumar, Dr D.M. Mulay and Mr Rajiv Jain, Secretary General, Mr Devendra Kumar Singh, other senior officers, Members of the Statutory Commission, SHRCs, Diplomats, civil society, among others.

Since its inception on October 12th, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act, PHRA, the NHRC, India has made significant contributions to the cause of human rights in the country, in line with the Constitution of India, underscoring the UDHR, discussions at various world bodies such as the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and the Asia Pacific Forum (APF). The NHRC, India, is compliant with the Paris Principles of the United Nations for the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and remains an `A' grade Accredited NHRI with the GANHRI for the promotion and protection of human rights, and has been part of four Universal Periodical Reviews (UPRs) since it began in 2006 for assessing human rights situation of UN member states and their NHRIs. It is also a Founder Member of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions since 1994. At present, its Chairperson, Mr Justice Arun Mishra, is a Member of its empowered Governance Committee as well as a Member of the GANHRI Bureau.

The NHRC, India has continually worked to ensure the protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Through its numerous programmes and activities, the Commission has also made significant contributions to mainstreaming a human rights-centred approach in government policies and programmes, as well as increasing human rights knowledge and sensitization among public officials and civil society.

From 1st December 2021 to 30th November 2022, the Commission registered 116675 cases, including 53 cases of suo motu cognizance; it disposed of 106683, including old and new cases, on the basis of enquiry reports from the concerned public authorities and the findings of its Investigation teams. In 224 cases, the Commission recommended Rs.9,14,25,000/- as relief to the victims of human rights violations. Furthermore, to broaden its reach and expedite the resolution of cases, the HRCNet Portal has included several State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs) to assist in eliminating duplication of complaints and tracking the status of cases.

The last year has seen a focus on the human rights of vulnerable sections of society, including the rights of truck drivers, persons involved in hazardous cleaning of sewage and municipal waste, victims of ocular trauma. The Commission has also taken up on priority the upkeep of mental health care institutions and shelter homes, rights and rehabilitation of cured mentally ill patients, and the problem of air pollution. Seven Advisories were issued.

The Commission also approved 23 research proposals this year on various topics of human rights ranging from the Right to Education, Child Rights, Rights of Tribals, Effects of the pandemic on human rights, the Right to life and livelihood, Local Self Governance-Panchayati Raj, Right to food, Rights of elderly, Rights of Refugees, Rights of Widows, Working of Ashram schools concerning Tribal areas and Girl Child Education.

The NHRC is also promoting human rights education and awareness. Its flagship five bi-monthly online short-term internships benefited hundreds of University students from across the country, besides the sponsoring 45 human rights workshops by various educational institutes and facilitating 18 visits of students and faculties of various institutes of higher learning for a day-long orientation. It continues with its exercise for collaboration with the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) for organizing human rights awareness programmes for and through the vast networks of their youth volunteers and functionaries in rural and urban areas. In addition, its Human Rights Photography Competition, Quiz Competition, annual debate competition for the Central Armed Police Forces, and Competition for short films on human rights are some significant activities for creating awareness of human rights issues involving citizens of the country.

Besides holding several VCs with different state authorities to expedite the submission of reports for quick disposal of cases, the Commission has also revived its public/open hearing mechanism post-pandemic. The Commission has appointed 15 Special Rapporteurs and 15 Special Monitors to "examine, monitor, evaluate, advise and report" on human rights violations through "activities undertaken by special procedures, conducting visits and providing advice". They have visited prisons, observation homes, schools, mental health institutes, police stations, balika sadans, state social welfare departments, homes for the elderly, hospitals, Anganwadi, shelter homes for girls, etc.

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