Amendments to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, Constitution of State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs) in remaining States, financial and functional difficulties faced by the SHRCs, Co-ordination, training and information sharing between the NHRC and SHRCs are some of the issues that are likely to be discussed at the meeting of the NHRC and SHRCs to be held in New Delhi on Friday, 13 May 2005.
The NHRC and SHRCs last met on 30 January 2004 and Friday's meeting reiterates the resolution at making this an annual feature in an attempt to co-ordinate efforts at better protection of human rights within the country.
Other items that have been proposed on the meeting's agenda are chalking out a special media strategy regarding mass awareness and education on Human Rights, working out a mechanism for monitoring implementation of recommendations of the NHRC and the possibility of setting up independent investigating agency to investigate complaints of violations of Human Rights referred to the SHRCs. The other issues like ending discrimination against those affected by HIV/AIDS, training and imparting skills to judges, prosecutors and police personnel and the status of Human Rights Courts as well as District Complaint Authorities besides the issue of violence against women, domestic violence and children, improving condition of jails and inmates will also be discussed.
14 States i.e. Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have already set up the State Human Rights Commissions. The setting up of a SHRC in the State of Andhra Pradesh has been notified while that in Karnataka is in the pipeline.