New Delhi, December 10th, 2011

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, organized a special function in New Delhi to observe the Human Rights Day today. It was on this day in 1948, the General Assembly of United Nations had adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Justice G.P. Mathur, Member, NHRC described the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a milestone document in the history of human rights. This spells out Fundamental Rights which are to be universally observed. He said that the Human Rights Day also gives an opportunity to the NHRC-India to take stock of its activities in promotion and protection of human rights in the country and self introspect to gear itself for further challenges. He said that the NHRC has been playing the role of a catalyst in promotion and protection of human rights and seeks cooperation of all the stakeholders including the government functionaries, civil society and NGOs among others in this endeavour.

Justice Mathur said that the NHRC in addition to building awareness about the promotion and protection of human rights is committed to fast disposal of cases of human rights violations thereby recommending monetary relief to the victim and punitive action against the erring public authority.

On the occasion, the message of UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon was also read out. In the message, he emphasized that the "human rights belong to every one of us without exception. But unless we know them, unless we demand they be respected, and unless we defend our right - and the right of others - to exercise them, they will be just words in a decades-old document."

Earlier, Dr. Rajiv Sharma, Secretary General, NHRC welcomed all the guests and dignitaries assembled to observe the human rights day with the Commission.

Marking the human rights day, the NHRC Members, Mr. Justice G.P. Mathur, Mr. Justice B.C. Patel, Mr. Satyabrata Pal and Mr. P.C. Sharma released six NHRC publications including Nai Dishayein in Hindi and a Journal in English carrying articles by eminent persons on different aspects of human rights; three booklets of Know Your Rights series in English titled 'Right to Work', 'Right of Shelter' and 'Rights of Elderly People'; and the Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers.

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