NHRC, India holds the meeting of its core group on Human Rights Defenders and NGOs

Press Release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 22nd July, 2024

NHRC, India holds the meeting of its core group on Human Rights Defenders and NGOs

Acting Chairperson Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani says the Commission is committed to engaging with the HRDs to spread awareness about human rights

Appreciating various NHRC advisories, the HRDs emphasize the need for an advisory to protect their rights also

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India convened a meeting of its core group of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and NGOs at its premises in New Delhi. Chairing the meeting, Acting Chairperson Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani highlighted the crucial role that human rights defenders play in raising the issues of human rights violations of different segments of society at the grassroots level often risking their safety. She said that they can play an important role in promoting the culture of respecting human rights and educating the public about them. The Commission is committed to engaging with the HRDs to spread awareness about the importance of promoting and protecting human rights.

Mr Ajay Bhatnagar, Director General (Investigation) highlighted the role played by the State agencies and the National Human Rights Commission in safeguarding the rights of Human rights defenders. There is a focal point of HRDs in the Commission.

Earlier, giving an overview of the meeting, Shri Devendra Kumar Nim, Joint Secretary said that the discussion aims to identify the roles, responsibilities and Challenges of Human Rights Defenders in India. He said that the HRDs and NGOs efforts can be very meaningful in fulfilling the Commission’s mandate for protecting and promoting human rights. Therefore, such interactions may be useful in identifying areas of cooperation between the NHRC and HRDs/ NGOs.

The HRDs in the meeting appreciated the various advisories issued by the Commission for the welfare and protection of different vulnerable sections of society. They suggested that the Commission may also consider issuing an advisory for protecting the rights of the HRDs given the multiple challenges they face at various levels while seeking justice for the victims. The need for an effective legal and policy framework was also suggested to support the work of human rights defenders in the field. They also emphasized the need to build awareness about the work of the HRDs in society.

The participants included NHRC senior officers, Mr Joginder Singh, Registrar (Law), Smt Anita Sinha, Joint Secretary, Ms. Monali P. Dhakate, Joint Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and NHRC Core group members, Dr. Jitendra Singh Shunty, President, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal, Mr. Suhas Chakma Director, Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), Mr. Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director, Action Aid Association, Ms. Naseema Khatoon, Founder, Parcham, Ms. Enakshi Ganguly, Executive Director, Housing and Land Rights Network, Ms. Pushpa Girimaji, Consumer Rights Activist and senior journalist, Dr. Shamim Modi, Professor and Chairperson, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Mr. Shah Aamir, Advocate.