New Delhi, 19th December, 2013

Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC, today inaugurated a day-long Workshop for media persons on 'Media and Human Rights: issues and Challenges' jointly organised by the Commission and the Indian Law Institute in New Delhi. Lauding the role of media in helping the Commission for protection and promotion of human rights and building awareness about these rights, he said that the aim of such workshops is to further orient the media persons towards reporting on human rights violations and raising concerns about the same so that effective remedial actions can be taken.
He said that the Commission has taken so motu cognizance of many issues of human rights violations on the basis of media reports. However, subsequently, in some cases it also came to light that the contents were not fully correct. He appealed to the media persons that given the importance attached by society to their work, they should make sure that their reports are authentic.
Justice Balakrishnan said that problems relating to malnutrition, gender insensitivities and crime against women are some of such serious issues, which need to be reported by media. He said that through media people can be made more aware about the amendments brought in the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Indian Evidence Act, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Referring to the Communal Violence Bill, the NRHC Chairperson said that if it is passed by Parliament in its present form, the Commission will have to share a huge responsibility for which its present capacity in terms of staff and infrastructure will not be sufficient but it is prepared to take the responsibility in the right spirit. Justice Balakrishnan said that the NHRC is a recommendatory body as per the provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 but its recommendations are respected by the Governments and implemented in most of the cases.
Earlier, Prof. Manoj Kumar Sinha, Director, Indian Law Institute and Mr. J.S. Kochher, Joint Secretary, NHRC also spoke on the occasion, highlighting the importance of human rights, role of media and the vast issues of human rights violations looked into by the NHRC encompassing civil, political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

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