Mr. A.K. Parashar, Joint Registrar (Law), NHRC attended a meeting of human rights defenders organized by the Society for Community Organization Trust at Madurai, Tamil Nadu on the 20th January, 2012. He informed them about the activities of the Commission and its complaint redressal mechanism.
Mr. Parashar reminded them that as human rights defenders they serve as eyes and ears of the Commission and their inputs to the Commission on human rights violations go a long way in ensuring protection and promotion of human rights in the country. The Commission has created a focal point to address the rights violations of the human rights defenders and they can contact him any time through email or dedicated mobile number. However, there is no provision for registration or membership of any NGOs/HRDs/individuals in the Commission.
The human rights defenders appreciated the role of the NHRC in protection and promotion of human rights. 92 persons including human rights defenders and alleged victims of the operations by the joint Special Task Force in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka attended the meet.
On the occasion Mr. Parashar also released a book titled 'Death Penalty an Affront to Human Rights', authored by the former Chief Justice of India, Mr. Justice P.N. Bhagwati.