Inaugurating it, Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General says, the interns should make the best use of this opportunity to evolve as Human Rights Defenders by imbibing the ethos of empathy and compassion

Press Release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi, 17th September, 2024<

NHRC, India begins its third Online Short Term Internship Programme this year

Inaugurating it, Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General says, the interns should make the best use of this opportunity to evolve as Human Rights Defenders by imbibing the ethos of empathy and compassion

Highlights various legislative measures and policy reforms in India to protect the civil and political, social and cultural rights to ensure people's right to live with dignity

About 100 university-level students from diverse academic disciplines attending from various parts of the country

This year’s third two-week Online Short-Term Internship Programme of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India began at its premises in New Delhi today on 17th September, 2024. 100 university-level students from diverse academic disciplines have been shortlisted to attend it from different parts of the country. Inaugurating the internship, Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General, NHRC, highlighted the Commission’s role as the conscience keeper of society in promoting and protecting human rights by addressing the challenges faced by the weaker sections of society. He said that the interns should make the best use of the exposure to various aspects of human rights during this covetous internship to evolve as Human Rights Defenders by imbibing the ethos of empathy and compassion.

Shri Bharat Lal said that the interns should reflect on India’s longstanding efforts in protecting the Human Rights of various sections of society, a commitment rooted since the ancient era. India has also consistently offered refuge to persecuted communities, demonstrating its dedication to the ethos of compassion and empathy. The Secretary-General also highlighted the legislative measures and policy reforms to protect not only civil and political rights but also social and cultural rights, ensuring people's right to live with dignity.

Before this, Shri Devendra Kumar Nim, Joint Secretary, NHRC, gave an overview of the internship wherein besides the sessions by the eminent speakers on various aspects of human rights, the interns will also have exposure to individual and group activities to sharpen their human rights awareness. They will also be taken for virtual tours to jails, police stations, Shelter homes, NGOs etc to have an understanding of their functioning and related challenges. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Lt Col Virender Singh, Director, NHRC.

NHRC is mandated to protect and promote human rights by organizing various activities in addition to disposal of complaints of human rights violations to expand its outreach. These include internship programmes, collaborative trainings and various other awareness activities. Internships are conducted in person as well as in online mode. The online internships are organized to ensure that students from remote areas may join without any expenses on their traveling and stay in Delhi.

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