Human Rights Day celebrated with a call for nationwide campaign to create awareness on human rights
New Delhi, 10 December 2005
Human Rights Day was celebrated today with a call to take out a nationwide campaign for creating awareness of the importance of preserving and protecting human rights. Speaking at a function organized by the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Information Centre, India at the FICCI Auditorium in New Delhi, Chief Guest Mr. Somnath Chatterjee, Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha stated that the issue of human rights is a very complex matter and the deprivation or denial of rights to many hundreds of thousands is mired in rigid social conventions and in economic conditions that have not, sadly, changed for centuries. He said that while steps are being taken to create awareness among people, the task is so enormous that it needs something like a nation-wide campaign sustained over years for there to be any effect at all. He regretted that even today there are still instances where the dignity of the human being is denied, and trampled upon like for example, women and children continue to be oppressed and exploited. He attributed the malaise to poverty.
In his speech, he said that it is a matter of deep concern and anxiety that we have not been able to give our people those rights that are theirs. In his opinion, it is not that there have not been enough laws enacted but the problem is so vast and so deep-rooted. He also stressed on the need for effective, speedy redressal mechanisms against specific instances of violations of human rights. A delay in providing justice is also a violation of individual's rights. It undermines the credibility of our judicial system itself, he said.
He called on the people not just to create awareness, but to resolve to stamp out all practices, customs and activities that deprive any individual of these rights. When such a movement is generated and sustained, he said, "we could hope that exploitative and oppressive social and economic practices, which still exist in our country, will gradually fade way". Institutions of democracy have to be facilitators in this endeavour, he added.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson, NHRC lamented that even though 57 years have gone by since the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, unfortunately the only thing that can be set to be a common "standard of achievement of all nations" today appears to be the widespread violations of human rights almost daily everywhere. It is sad that at the beginning of the 21st Century no country can look back on its own record of Human Rights of the last Century with any sense of pride.
Commenting on the increasing number of people living below poverty, Justice Anand stated that statistics demonstrate how distant the goal of "Human Rights for All" is. He lamented that the State does not appear to realize that one of the basic reasons for the disparity is on account of the neglect of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Systemic denial of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights like Right to Food, Health-care, Education etc. poses a threat not only to Human Rights but also to peace. Stressing that where hunger persists, peace cannot prevail the Chairperson said that the approach adopted by the state of shielding behind the non- justiciability of ESCR as outlined in the directive principles contained in chapter IV of the Constitution is not a correct approach.
As the mandate of the Constitution is that even though directive principles (ESCR) are not justiciable or enforceable by the courts, the same are "fundamental in the governance of the country" and it shall be the "duty" of the State to apply these principles. The State cannot, therefore, he stated, ignore the importance of economic, social and cultural rights while proclaiming itself to be a welfare state. He said that the State must appreciate the importance of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and take steps to promote the same. It should not be content by only chalking out strategies. It needs to work towards full human development, he opined.
Justice Anand voiced his concern at the ever-growing religious fundamentalism and use of terrorist activities, which poses a serious threat to human rights. Society's response to such type of terrorism has to be clear and effective, he said. Indifference of the society to such acts encourages the fundamentalists. A loud and positive condemnation of their activities by the society, on the other hand may discourage them. A violent group whatever its politics, has no right to kill, and no claim to such a right must ever be allowed to override the right of the majority of citizens to live in peace he observed.
Justice Anand told the gathering it is heartening that several questions raised in Parliament are based on statistics and information provided in the Annual Reports of the Commission as well as other documents released by the Commission from time to time during the course of its work. This is a cause for optimism, because, so long as the elected representatives of the people take an abiding interest in the protection of human rights of the citizens, the executive government in power, shall have to account for, both, its acts of omission and commission.
Citing the case of an under-trial prisoner, Mr. Machang Lalung was languishing in the mental institute in Tejpur, Assam as an under-trial prisoner for 54 years. He questioned as to who is responsible for the protracted incarceration? Is it failure of the system? The State he observed must give the matter a serious thought. We must not forget that they are human beings, not merely some number, he added.
The Chairperson in his speech also touched on the Commission's initiation on Public Health Care, the Rights of persons affected/infected with HIV/AIDS, Rights of persons with Disabilities, and the Commission's intervention in the aftermath of last year's Tsunami catastrophe and the earthquake which rocked Jammu & Kashmir in October this year.
On the occasion, UNIC representative in India Mr. Rajiv Chandran read out the message on behalf of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan. In his message, the UN Secretary General voiced his concern at the disturbing trend of countries claiming exceptions to the prohibition on torture based on their own national security perceptions.
Mr. Kofi Annan urged the international community to speak forcefully, and with one voice, against torture in all its forms. Pointing out that humanity faces grave challenges today, he emphasized the threat of terror is real and immediate. Yet fear of terrorists can never justify adopting their methods. Nor can we be complacent about the broader prevalence of cruel and inhuman punishment, which in so many of our societies disproportionately affects the most vulnerable people: the imprisoned, the politically powerless and the economically deprived. Instead, we must respond to this evil wherever we find it by reaffirming humanity's most basic values. Let us rededicate ourselves to wiping the scourge of torture from the face of the earth, he added.
Three publications of the NHRC were released on the occasion. These include the English Journal Vol. 4, Hindi Journal Vol. 2 and a book titled Human Rights education for Beginners meant for students.
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Human Rights Day was celebrated today with a call to take out a nationwide campaign for creating awareness of the importance of preserving and protecting human rights. Speaking at a function organized by the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Information Centre, India at the FICCI Auditorium in New Delhi, Chief Guest Mr. Somnath Chatterjee, Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha stated that the issue of human rights is a very complex matter and the deprivation or denial of rights to many hundreds of thousands is mired in rigid social conventions and in economic conditions that have not, sadly, changed for centuries. He said that while steps are being taken to create awareness among people, the task is so enormous that it needs something like a nation-wide campaign sustained over years for there to be any effect at all. He regretted that even today there are still instances where the dignity of the human being is denied, and trampled upon like for example, women and children continue to be oppressed and exploited. He attributed the malaise to poverty.
In his speech, he said that it is a matter of deep concern and anxiety that we have not been able to give our people those rights that are theirs. In his opinion, it is not that there have not been enough laws enacted but the problem is so vast and so deep-rooted. He also stressed on the need for effective, speedy redressal mechanisms against specific instances of violations of human rights. A delay in providing justice is also a violation of individual's rights. It undermines the credibility of our judicial system itself, he said.
He called on the people not just to create awareness, but to resolve to stamp out all practices, customs and activities that deprive any individual of these rights. When such a movement is generated and sustained, he said, "we could hope that exploitative and oppressive social and economic practices, which still exist in our country, will gradually fade way". Institutions of democracy have to be facilitators in this endeavour, he added.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson, NHRC lamented that even though 57 years have gone by since the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, unfortunately the only thing that can be set to be a common "standard of achievement of all nations" today appears to be the widespread violations of human rights almost daily everywhere. It is sad that at the beginning of the 21st Century no country can look back on its own record of Human Rights of the last Century with any sense of pride.
Commenting on the increasing number of people living below poverty, Justice Anand stated that statistics demonstrate how distant the goal of "Human Rights for All" is. He lamented that the State does not appear to realize that one of the basic reasons for the disparity is on account of the neglect of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Systemic denial of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights like Right to Food, Health-care, Education etc. poses a threat not only to Human Rights but also to peace. Stressing that where hunger persists, peace cannot prevail the Chairperson said that the approach adopted by the state of shielding behind the non- justiciability of ESCR as outlined in the directive principles contained in chapter IV of the Constitution is not a correct approach.
As the mandate of the Constitution is that even though directive principles (ESCR) are not justiciable or enforceable by the courts, the same are "fundamental in the governance of the country" and it shall be the "duty" of the State to apply these principles. The State cannot, therefore, he stated, ignore the importance of economic, social and cultural rights while proclaiming itself to be a welfare state. He said that the State must appreciate the importance of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and take steps to promote the same. It should not be content by only chalking out strategies. It needs to work towards full human development, he opined.
Justice Anand voiced his concern at the ever-growing religious fundamentalism and use of terrorist activities, which poses a serious threat to human rights. Society's response to such type of terrorism has to be clear and effective, he said. Indifference of the society to such acts encourages the fundamentalists. A loud and positive condemnation of their activities by the society, on the other hand may discourage them. A violent group whatever its politics, has no right to kill, and no claim to such a right must ever be allowed to override the right of the majority of citizens to live in peace he observed.
Justice Anand told the gathering it is heartening that several questions raised in Parliament are based on statistics and information provided in the Annual Reports of the Commission as well as other documents released by the Commission from time to time during the course of its work. This is a cause for optimism, because, so long as the elected representatives of the people take an abiding interest in the protection of human rights of the citizens, the executive government in power, shall have to account for, both, its acts of omission and commission.
Citing the case of an under-trial prisoner, Mr. Machang Lalung was languishing in the mental institute in Tejpur, Assam as an under-trial prisoner for 54 years. He questioned as to who is responsible for the protracted incarceration? Is it failure of the system? The State he observed must give the matter a serious thought. We must not forget that they are human beings, not merely some number, he added.
The Chairperson in his speech also touched on the Commission's initiation on Public Health Care, the Rights of persons affected/infected with HIV/AIDS, Rights of persons with Disabilities, and the Commission's intervention in the aftermath of last year's Tsunami catastrophe and the earthquake which rocked Jammu & Kashmir in October this year.
On the occasion, UNIC representative in India Mr. Rajiv Chandran read out the message on behalf of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan. In his message, the UN Secretary General voiced his concern at the disturbing trend of countries claiming exceptions to the prohibition on torture based on their own national security perceptions.
Mr. Kofi Annan urged the international community to speak forcefully, and with one voice, against torture in all its forms. Pointing out that humanity faces grave challenges today, he emphasized the threat of terror is real and immediate. Yet fear of terrorists can never justify adopting their methods. Nor can we be complacent about the broader prevalence of cruel and inhuman punishment, which in so many of our societies disproportionately affects the most vulnerable people: the imprisoned, the politically powerless and the economically deprived. Instead, we must respond to this evil wherever we find it by reaffirming humanity's most basic values. Let us rededicate ourselves to wiping the scourge of torture from the face of the earth, he added.
Three publications of the NHRC were released on the occasion. These include the English Journal Vol. 4, Hindi Journal Vol. 2 and a book titled Human Rights education for Beginners meant for students.
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