New Delhi, June 15th, 2010
NHRC's one month long thirteenth Summer Internship Programme on human rights concluded in New Delhi today. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan congratulated the interns and expressed hope that they would work for the protection and promotion of human rights, and intelligently intervene to ensure justice for those whose human rights are violated.
Justice Balakrishnan said that there are so many problems in our country like inequality, lack of education etc., and that some people don't respect others' rights. Examples of such incidents in some cases are in open, and in some are being secretly manipulated in our society. Sometimes, we are not in a position to react these situations, but on many occasions we can intervene. It is no use to keep ideas in mind but react to the situations in the society.
Referring to a point raised by one of the interns about many human rights activists claiming to be working for the protection of human rights but actually doing nothing, Justice Balakrishnan said that there could be pseudo human rights activists. He said that dissemination of knowledge about protection and promotion of human rights can help in such situations. Interns would do well to disseminate the knowledge, attained during their internship on human rights related issues, among others.
Forty eight candidates, comprising 26 girls and 22 boys completed their internship which commenced on the 17th May, 2010. They were from different institutions and universities in the 28 states and union territories of the country.
The interns mainly comprised post-graduate level students of law, criminology and social science. Three candidates shared the best intern award. The aim of the internship programme was to sensitise the young students about the various aspects of human rights.
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