"The National Human Rights Commission of India considers the Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) as integral to its endeavour to promote and protect the human rights of the common man. 9th of December, the day when the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders was adopted in 1998, is a day when the Commission takes the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions made by all Human Rights Defenders and for the efforts made by them at personal risk, at times even in adverse circumstances for the promotion and protection of human rights.
In order to strengthen and support the HRDs in their pursuits, the Commission has taken several steps in recent years. These include, inclusion of a chapter in the Annual Report, displaying status of cases relating to them on the website, creation of a focal point for Human Rights Defenders as well as holding of workshops and seminars on subjects relating to them. The Commission has visited remote areas of the country to understand the difficulties of the HRDs at the grass root level and has sought to rectify the hurdles they face through the concerned State Government. Complaints received in the Commission pertaining to HRDs have been accorded high priority and immediate/necessary relief has been provided, as per merits, to the victims.
The Commission assures of its continued support for the protection of bonafide interests and causes the Human Rights Defenders stand for. The Commission also supports the declaration of 9th of December as the Human Rights Defenders Day as this will provide an impetus to the role being played by the Human Rights Defenders."