National Action Plan
In the year 1999, the United Nations held an Inter-sessional Workshop in Bangkok, on developing a National Plan of Action for the promotion and protection of Human Rights. Shri A. Gopinathan, Joint Secretary (UN), Ministry of External Affairs who had attended the Workshop forwarded a copy of the note on conclusion along with possible elements to facilitate the development of a National Action Plan(NAP). The matter was placed before the Commission in its meeting held on August 13, 1999. In the year 2000, the MHA conveyed the view that the development of such a National Action Plan would be useful and important.
The Ministry felt that steps like conducting a base line study on this subject in the country, developing priorities and strategies were essential to formulate a plan. On the issue as who should do the base line study, the Ministry was of the view that the NHRC was the ideal agency for the purpose. The Commission was clear in its view that the responsibility for the preparation of the National Action Plan rested squarely on State party namely the Government. However, since the government had requested the NHRC to take the lead, the Commission felt that this opportunity could be utilized in guiding the Government in preparation of the Plan of Action.
The Ministry of Home Affairs forwarded a draft prepared by Shri Shankar Sen, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi and requested the Commission's assistance in formulating a draft National Action Plan. The issue was discussed in the Commisison's meeting on May 27, 2004 and it was decided that Commission had no objection in principle to undertake the preparation of the National Action Plan. However, the Commission would take up this work on its own terms, keeping in view its status as an independent National Institution.
The issue regarding the preparation of the National Action Plan was considered by the Commission on Feb18, 2005. The Commission decided to take up this task and towards this end, use the draft prepared by Shri Shankar Sen as base paper and carry on intermittent dialogue and consultation with MHA before finalizing the draft. The Commission constituted the Working Group as well as the Advisory Committee to formulate NAP.
Meetings of the Working Group of NAP for Human Rights were convened in the Commission during February and June 2006. It was decided to focus on the areas that would require continuous dialogue and discussions before taking an appropriate shape for its documentation in the body of National Action Plan for human rights.
The first meeting of the Advisory Committee was held on December 19, 2006. It was decided to constitute small groups for each of the topics, which may consist of one or two experts from the related area, representatives of the concerned Ministry and State Governments. The inputs provided by the experts would be utilized for formulation of a National Action Plan.
The experts of the small group submitted draft National Action Plan on the following topics: Right to Health, Right to Food, Right to Housing, Right to Custodial Justice, Prevention of Human Trafficking with Special Focus on Children and Women and Right to Education.
The second meeting of the Advisory Committee was held on October 30, 2007 in the Commission. In the meeting, it was decided to convene the meetings of the Advisory Committee in the Commission under the Chairmanship of Dr. Justice Shri Shivaraj V. Patil on each of the topics.
The process of finalization of the National Action Plan on all the above issues is in full swing and is expected to be completed before December 31, 2007.
The Ministry felt that steps like conducting a base line study on this subject in the country, developing priorities and strategies were essential to formulate a plan. On the issue as who should do the base line study, the Ministry was of the view that the NHRC was the ideal agency for the purpose. The Commission was clear in its view that the responsibility for the preparation of the National Action Plan rested squarely on State party namely the Government. However, since the government had requested the NHRC to take the lead, the Commission felt that this opportunity could be utilized in guiding the Government in preparation of the Plan of Action.
The Ministry of Home Affairs forwarded a draft prepared by Shri Shankar Sen, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi and requested the Commission's assistance in formulating a draft National Action Plan. The issue was discussed in the Commisison's meeting on May 27, 2004 and it was decided that Commission had no objection in principle to undertake the preparation of the National Action Plan. However, the Commission would take up this work on its own terms, keeping in view its status as an independent National Institution.
The issue regarding the preparation of the National Action Plan was considered by the Commission on Feb18, 2005. The Commission decided to take up this task and towards this end, use the draft prepared by Shri Shankar Sen as base paper and carry on intermittent dialogue and consultation with MHA before finalizing the draft. The Commission constituted the Working Group as well as the Advisory Committee to formulate NAP.
Meetings of the Working Group of NAP for Human Rights were convened in the Commission during February and June 2006. It was decided to focus on the areas that would require continuous dialogue and discussions before taking an appropriate shape for its documentation in the body of National Action Plan for human rights.
The first meeting of the Advisory Committee was held on December 19, 2006. It was decided to constitute small groups for each of the topics, which may consist of one or two experts from the related area, representatives of the concerned Ministry and State Governments. The inputs provided by the experts would be utilized for formulation of a National Action Plan.
The experts of the small group submitted draft National Action Plan on the following topics: Right to Health, Right to Food, Right to Housing, Right to Custodial Justice, Prevention of Human Trafficking with Special Focus on Children and Women and Right to Education.
The second meeting of the Advisory Committee was held on October 30, 2007 in the Commission. In the meeting, it was decided to convene the meetings of the Advisory Committee in the Commission under the Chairmanship of Dr. Justice Shri Shivaraj V. Patil on each of the topics.
The process of finalization of the National Action Plan on all the above issues is in full swing and is expected to be completed before December 31, 2007.