Message from Mr. Justice P.C. Pant, Member, NHRC, India on the eve of Human Rights Day-2020 (09.12.2020)

New Delhi, 09th December, 2020

On behalf of the National Human Rights Commission, greetings to all on the eve of Human Rights Day, which is to be celebrated worldwide tomorrow on the 10th December. The Day marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. It reminds us that human rights are our basic rights. These include, among others, our right to live with liberty, equality and dignity, our right to health, education, freedom of speech and thoughts.

“Recover Better – Stand up for Human Rights” is the theme of this year’s Human Rights Day, as decided by the United Nations and relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Human Rights Day provides us an opportunity for re-motivating ourselves to use our freedom to stand up not only for the protection of our rights but also of others. As a citizen, if we follow our duties, human rights will not be violated. And for this, we must, first, remember to respect the rights of others. We must ensure that in exercise of our freedom, we do not violate lawful and natural rights of others.

The Preamble of the Constitution of India and the Articles relating to the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy make the protection of human rights a Constitutional obligation for the citizens as well as the governments elected by them.

On the eve of Human Rights Day, the National Human Rights Commission, India rededicates itself to continue its mission for the promotion and protection of human rights as per its mandate under the Protection of Human Rights Act. The interventions of the Commission should be seen and supported as guidance towards ensuring good governance for which, the State has a Constitutional obligation.

Let us join hands to create a society wherein, human rights of all are valued and protected in our great nation.

Jai Hind!!"

*****