New Delhi 22nd February 2006
In its continuing effort at creating awareness and inculcating Human Rights Culture amongst the masses in the country, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held a meeting with experts and academicians in New Delhi on 20th February 2006. The meeting, which was jointly organized, by the NHRC and the NGO Karnataka Women's Information and Resource Centre deliberated on how to prepare dossiers on Human Rights Education for the University level students. These experts are being roped in to write essays based on their own experience on field.
Addressing the meeting Dr Justice A.S.Anand, Chairperson, NHRC stated that the idea of preparing the dossiers is not to bring out yet another textbook for the University students but to generate awareness and get the students interested. This could be achieved if the authors of the dossiers interact with the teachers in the university to help crystallize their thoughts as well as use their personal experiences gained on the field while writing for the dossiers. It was felt that these dossiers should make all related information available at one place, contain practical suggestions and thus be of such quality that they help in developing the curricula for the University
He also regretted the tardy progress that human rights education has made ever since it was highlighted in the mid 1980s and also the neglect of Economic, Social and Cultural rights.
At the meeting the participants felt that preparation of the dossiers would be important since students are the future of the country and a means for disseminating it to other groups. It was felt that the dossiers should also highlight the human rights scenario faced in the villages and should be a comprehensive project. It was felt that the dossiers should not just create awareness on rights but also on the duties of the citizen. The Universality and indivisibility of Human rights should be reflected in the dossiers.
The experts also voiced their concern at the existing gap between what is being done in the teaching profession and what is actually happening on the ground. Preparation of multimedia training manuals/ modules for teachers on how to teach the issue of human rights was suggested.
The experts who attended the meeting were Dr. D. Jeevan Kumar, Professor of Political Science, Bangalore University, Ms. Nalini Nayak, Human Rights Activist, Shri Sanjay Sangvai, Ms. N.B.Sarojini, Ms. Shivani Chaudhry, Dr. Meera Pillai, Shri Ashisk Kothari, Founder Member of Kalpavriksh, Shri Martin Macwan, Navsarjan Trust, Ms. Ela. R. Bhatt, SEVA, Dr. Poonam Agarwal, Prof. NCERT and Ms. Devaki Jain, Project Director, KWIRC.

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