The 56th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights
The 56th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights was held in Geneva on 18 April 2000. The National Human Rights Commission was represented here by its Chairperson, Mr. Justice J.S. Verma, Member, Shri Virendra Dayal and Secretary General, Shri N. Gopalaswami.
Justice J.S. Verma addressed the Session under the item dealing with `National Institutions and Regional Arrangements’. He welcomed the growing participation by National Institutions in their own right, in the work of the UN Commission on Human Rights. We looked forward to the widening of this trend to include increasing participation by National Institutions in other UN forums dealing with human rights. He expressed the belief that National Institutions could bring uniquely valuable and constructive experiences and insights to the work of United Nations Conferences, international seminars, workshops, and the work of treaty bodies when matters relating to human rights were being considered.
He detailed the ever-increasing work and concerns of the Indian National Commission observing, in particular, its positive contribution to the jurisprudence of human rights and to an understanding of the universality and indivisibility of human rights. He added that India had moved a long way in incorporating international standards into domestic law even when express legislation was wanting.
Addressing the members of the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Mary Robinson, congratulated the National Human Rights Commission of India for Chairing the International Co-ordinating Committee for the fifth consecutive year.
She expressed pleasure that the numbers of national human rights institutions had grown to 35 and that they were strengthening their role. She also appreciated the growing identity and significance of these institutions, as was clearly affirmed in the Rabat Declaration.
As part of the development of regional strategies, she called for regional initiatives, which capitalised on the energies of governments and Parliaments in the region, national institutions and organisations of civil society. To combat discrimination and violent acts committed against migrant groups, she urged all the national institutions to use their expertise and ability to inform and do their utmost to ensure that their respective governments ratify the International Convention for the Protection of Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. Talking about the right to health, the High Commissioner said that this area had not been adequately touched upon as yet. She called upon National Institutions to reflect upon the pandemic of HIV/AIDS and assist in stopping its spread, while extending a compassionate hand and support to those who need it. "Weakness in the delivery of proper health care ties into a broader theme of the Rabat Declaration which I have highlighted as requiring increased attention – economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development".
Calling National Institutions a bridge between governments and civil society, Ms. Robinson urged them to publicise international instruments in the field of economic and social rights, to press their governments to ratify these instruments and to develop and participate in national education programmes aimed at the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights. Asserting that "there should be no impunity in the case of gross violations of human rights", the High Commissioner asked National Institutions to encourage their governments to ratify the statute of the International Criminal Court so as to ensure that it comes into force.
The meeting of the International Co-ordinating Committee deliberated on various agenda items dealing especially with ways of strengthening the working of the National Institutions and cooperation between them.
Justice J.S. Verma addressed the Session under the item dealing with `National Institutions and Regional Arrangements’. He welcomed the growing participation by National Institutions in their own right, in the work of the UN Commission on Human Rights. We looked forward to the widening of this trend to include increasing participation by National Institutions in other UN forums dealing with human rights. He expressed the belief that National Institutions could bring uniquely valuable and constructive experiences and insights to the work of United Nations Conferences, international seminars, workshops, and the work of treaty bodies when matters relating to human rights were being considered.
He detailed the ever-increasing work and concerns of the Indian National Commission observing, in particular, its positive contribution to the jurisprudence of human rights and to an understanding of the universality and indivisibility of human rights. He added that India had moved a long way in incorporating international standards into domestic law even when express legislation was wanting.
Addressing the members of the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Mary Robinson, congratulated the National Human Rights Commission of India for Chairing the International Co-ordinating Committee for the fifth consecutive year.
She expressed pleasure that the numbers of national human rights institutions had grown to 35 and that they were strengthening their role. She also appreciated the growing identity and significance of these institutions, as was clearly affirmed in the Rabat Declaration.
As part of the development of regional strategies, she called for regional initiatives, which capitalised on the energies of governments and Parliaments in the region, national institutions and organisations of civil society. To combat discrimination and violent acts committed against migrant groups, she urged all the national institutions to use their expertise and ability to inform and do their utmost to ensure that their respective governments ratify the International Convention for the Protection of Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. Talking about the right to health, the High Commissioner said that this area had not been adequately touched upon as yet. She called upon National Institutions to reflect upon the pandemic of HIV/AIDS and assist in stopping its spread, while extending a compassionate hand and support to those who need it. "Weakness in the delivery of proper health care ties into a broader theme of the Rabat Declaration which I have highlighted as requiring increased attention – economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development".
Calling National Institutions a bridge between governments and civil society, Ms. Robinson urged them to publicise international instruments in the field of economic and social rights, to press their governments to ratify these instruments and to develop and participate in national education programmes aimed at the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights. Asserting that "there should be no impunity in the case of gross violations of human rights", the High Commissioner asked National Institutions to encourage their governments to ratify the statute of the International Criminal Court so as to ensure that it comes into force.
The meeting of the International Co-ordinating Committee deliberated on various agenda items dealing especially with ways of strengthening the working of the National Institutions and cooperation between them.