President of India lauds NHRC on Human Rights Day for its role in promotion and protection of human rights: Calls upon people to introspect for duties also while claiming their rights (10.12.2019)

New Delhi, 10th December, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC organized a function to celebrate Human Rights Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi today on the 10th December, 2019. Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest of the function, The President of India, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind said that the ideal way for the whole world to commemorate Human Rights Day is to introspect what more we need to do to live up the letter and spirit of the sacred text of the Universal Decalration of Human Rights(UDHR) by the United Nations.

Mr. Kovind said that our failings in human rights, as in the cases of violence against women, often stand from our failings in following our fundamental duties. The national discourse, besides rightly focusing on the all important question of human rights, can also make more space for consideration of our fundamental duties too.

He recalled the contribution of Ms. Hansa Mehta, who played a crucial role in the drafting of the Constitution of India as well as the Universal Decration of Human Rights by the United Nations. It was because of her that the Universal of Declaration of the Rights of Men was eventually recognised as the Universal of Declaration of Human Rights. She was also called the “First Lady of the World” for her contributions to the cause of huamn rights. He said that we can do more to commemorate the visionary leadership of Hansa Ben in the field of human rights and gender equality.

Lauding the role of the Human Rights Commission towards the promotion and protection of human rights and the peoples’faith in it, the President of India said that it has lived upto the expectations by playing the role of a quasi-judicial watch dog-for a quarter of century without fear or favour. However, he said that the effective strengthing of human rights at the ground level is a collective task of the whole society.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, the NHRC Chairperson Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu said that UDHR is an embediment of the aspirations of people across the world for enquring equality, dignity and peaceful co-existence. Giving an insight into the various functions of the NHRC and its contribution at the national and international forum, including Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions, he said that the Commissions endevour has been to make itself as accessible to people as possible in redressal of their grievances related to human rights violations. He said that the NHRC, India is an ‘A’ accredited NHRI with the GANHRI and also a member of its Bureau, which is an imprtant policy setting body.

He called upon the people to take a pledge to achieve a just and equitable society by upholding the principles and ideas enshrined in our Constitutions and the Universal Decleration of Human Rights for the proection and promotion of human dignity.

On the occaion, Justice Dattu also released NHRC Journals in Hindi and English as well as a DVD of seven short films on human rights awarded by the Commission in 2019.

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, in his message on Human Rights Day, read out by Ms. Renata Lok-Dessallien, UN Resident Coordinator in India, said that “Every single person is entitled to all rights: civil, political, economic, social and cultural. Regardless of where they live. Regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, social origin, gender, sexual orientation, political or other opinion, disability or income, or any other status. On this International Day, I call on everyone to support and protect young people who are standing up for human rights.”

Prior to this, the NHRC Seceretary General Mr. Jaideep Govind, welcoming the august gathering, said that the NHRC-India being the world’s largest human rights institution has been making all efforts to promote human rights culture in the country. In the last 26 years, it has taken congnizance of over 18 lakh cases of human rights violations and over 180 cores in rupees have been paid on its recommendations in thousands of cases.

Giving an outline of its various engagements with different subject specific and group specific human rights issues and various mechanism to deal with the complaints of human rights violations, Mr. Govind said that the Commission has made its functioning more transparent by uploading its orders on HRCnet portal, which is interactive. It has expanded its outreach further by linking its online complaint filing system with over 3 lakhs common service centres.

Besides, the NHRC Members, Mr. Justice P.C.Pant, Mrs. Jyotika Kalra, Dr. D.M. Mulay, several dignitories including former Chairperson and Members of the NHRC, Chairpersons and Members of State Human Rights Commission, representatives of Central and State Governments, UN Bodies, Diplomats Civil Society, NGOs, Media, among others, attended the function.

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