NHRC celebrated the Human Rights Day on the 10th December, 2009 and in this connection a function was organized in New Delhi. Addressing a gathering as the chief guest on the occasion, the Union Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram said that the scope of protection of human rights is expanding with several new areas of interest to the mankind, and NHRC should explore them. Referring to the rights of indigenous people, he said that they too need to acquire all modern amenities and become part of the mainstream even while holding on to their culture. The Minister said that the violation of the rights of the girl child and minorities should be paid special attention. It is the responsibility of the majority community to protect the human rights of minorities wherever they are. Shri Chidambaram said that given the multi-linguistic ideologies and religious beliefs in India, incidents of human rights violation may not be an exception, as these occur even in those countries which are having one language and one religion. India, in this sense, is a unique country in the world having unity in its diversity.
The Minister also released NHRC's journals in Hindi and English, and took interest in the photo and painting exhibition organized on the occasion.
Earlier, welcoming him, the NHRC, Acting Chairperson, Justice Shri G.P. Mathur said that the Commission is committed to protecting and promoting the human rights of all. It has significant achievements in different areas of human rights, including rights of children, women, disabled persons, detainees, displaced persons among others. He said that the deep-rooted structural inequalities in the Indian society like caste and gender based discrimination are a major impediment to the realisation of human rights by all. The scourge of militancy and terrorism has made the task of protecting the basic human rights of people extremely difficult. Justice Mathur said that the Commission has made special efforts to ensure that the disposal of complaints keeps pace with the intake as number of complaints of human rights violation since its inception has increased manifold. He said that while celebrating the historic day, we all must promise to create a human rights culture by inculcating the values of humanity and love for others.
In a message, read out on the occasion, UN Secretary General Ban Ki - Moon said that abstracts commitments towards protection and promotion of human rights are not enough. We must continue to confront inequality and intolerance wherever they are found.
Several dignitaries including Shri Buta Singh, Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Smt. Urmila Singh, Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Members of NHRC, and senior officers among others were present on the occasion.