Meeting of the Core Group of NGOs
A meeting of the Core Group of NGOs was held in the National Human Rights Commission on July 18, 2008 under the Chairmanship of Justice Shri. S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, NHRC. The Members of the Commission, Justice Shri. G.P. Mathur, Shri R.S. Kalha and Shri P.C. Sharma participated in the meeting.
A number of issues were raised by the Core Group of NGOs. In response, the Commission stated that in case of Binayak Sen it was for the courts to allow or not to allow trial observers to attend its proceedings and it will not be in order for NHRC to nominate any such observer; on Salwa Judum it was categorically pointed out that the Commission was not acting under the PHR Act while inquiring into the issue but under the directions of the Supreme Court in the nature of Commissioner appointed by the Court. On finalization of National Action Plan it was said that the draft National Action Plan when finalized, will be circulated amongst Members of NHRC Core Group on NGOs for comments. On protecting human rights defenders, the Chairperson stated that in emergency cases, Shri Sunil Krishna, DG (Investigation), NHRC could be approached. On transferring of cases to the State Human Rights Commissions the Chairperson said that the Commission was duty bound to implement its statute, which provides for transfer of cases.
In respect of rights of persons with disabilities, the Chairperson referred to the decision to hold five Regional Workshops on Disability with the first of the series organized in May, 2008 in Dehradun.
The meeting also discussed the agenda items of 13th APF meeting, which was to be held from July 28 to 31, 2008 at Kuala Lumpur. The other issues discussed were NHRC India report under the Universal Periodic Review Process, corporate social responsibility and observance of 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The meeting was attended by Shri Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director, Peoples Watch, Tamilnadu; Shri Mahaboo Batcha, Director, Society for Community organization Trust, Madurai; Smt. Devaki Jain, Project Director-cum- Trustee, Singamma Sreenivasan Foundation, Bangalore; Dr. Abhay Shukla, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Pune; Mr. Kiran Kamal Prasad, Secretary, Vimukti Trust, Bangalore.
A number of issues were raised by the Core Group of NGOs. In response, the Commission stated that in case of Binayak Sen it was for the courts to allow or not to allow trial observers to attend its proceedings and it will not be in order for NHRC to nominate any such observer; on Salwa Judum it was categorically pointed out that the Commission was not acting under the PHR Act while inquiring into the issue but under the directions of the Supreme Court in the nature of Commissioner appointed by the Court. On finalization of National Action Plan it was said that the draft National Action Plan when finalized, will be circulated amongst Members of NHRC Core Group on NGOs for comments. On protecting human rights defenders, the Chairperson stated that in emergency cases, Shri Sunil Krishna, DG (Investigation), NHRC could be approached. On transferring of cases to the State Human Rights Commissions the Chairperson said that the Commission was duty bound to implement its statute, which provides for transfer of cases.
In respect of rights of persons with disabilities, the Chairperson referred to the decision to hold five Regional Workshops on Disability with the first of the series organized in May, 2008 in Dehradun.
The meeting also discussed the agenda items of 13th APF meeting, which was to be held from July 28 to 31, 2008 at Kuala Lumpur. The other issues discussed were NHRC India report under the Universal Periodic Review Process, corporate social responsibility and observance of 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The meeting was attended by Shri Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director, Peoples Watch, Tamilnadu; Shri Mahaboo Batcha, Director, Society for Community organization Trust, Madurai; Smt. Devaki Jain, Project Director-cum- Trustee, Singamma Sreenivasan Foundation, Bangalore; Dr. Abhay Shukla, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Pune; Mr. Kiran Kamal Prasad, Secretary, Vimukti Trust, Bangalore.