The NHRC celebrates its 20th Foundation Day
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC celebrated its 20th Foundation Day on the 12th October, 2012. Addressing a function organized to mark the day, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC recalled the work done by the Commission towards promotion and protection of human rights and the contribution made by Chairpersons, Members, officers and staff of the Commission in this direction. He paid tributes to the first Chairperson of NHRC, Late Justice Ranganath Misra who passed away on the 13th September, 2012 after a brief illness.
Justice Balakrishnan said that throughout the 19 years of the journey of the NHRC since its inception in 1993, it has consistently strived hard to broaden the scope and ambit of human rights. Faith of people of this country in the Commission is reflected in the number of complaints it has been receiving over the years. These have steadily grown from 496 complaints in 1993-1994 to 95,174 during the last fiscal, with action having been completed in nearly 94,942 cases.
The Commission has disposed of an estimated 11 lakh cases so far. The phenomenal increase in the number of complaints is also indicative of the growing awareness about human rights.
The NHRC Chair-person said that despite its limited resources, the Commission's constant endeavour has been to make itself accessible to the people as much as possible. The NHRC has had been holding extensive interactions with the government functionaries, representatives of media and civil society working on various human rights issues.
Last year alone, the Commission conducted 149 training programmes to build awareness on human rights and encourage people from different sections of society to work with a rights based approach.
He said that the Commission continues to bring out publications such as its monthly newsletters in English and Hindi, annual journals and manuals to create human rights awareness. It is also in the process of bringing out a handbook on International Human Rights Conventions, besides the glossary in some regional languages containing words relating to human rights issues.
Justice Balakrishnan said that the NHRC uses full range of its instrumentalities to monitor the responsiveness of public servants to human rights. So far, 22 States have set up State Human Rights Commissions. The Commission has written to these State Governments regarding to fill up the vacant posts of Chairperson and Members in the State Human Rights Commissions.
He said that at the international level too, the Commission has, and continues, to play an active role in the promotion and protection of human rights. The NHRC-India is an 'A' Grade Accredited NHRI, and a member of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and also a founder member of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF).
During the year, the Commission actively participated in the annual meetings of these bodies and shared its best practices with the other NHRIs of the region. The NHRC submitted an independent report to the Human Rights Council for the Second Universal Periodic Review and also made a statement in the Plenary Session of the Review.
Justice Balakrishan said that the Commission held interactions with delegations from the National Human Rights Institutions of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Oman and Myamar. The Commission has signed an MoU with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission for capacity-building and technical assistance on specific areas of interest to the Afghanistan Human Rights Commission. It also held discussions with the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions, and other representatives of the UN organizations.
Earlier, Mr. J.S. Kochher, Joint Secretary (Trg.), NHRC welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of the event. NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Members, Mr. Justice B.C. Patel and Mr. Satyabrata Pal gave away prizes to the winners of the children's painting competition organized on the human rights related themes as part of the Foundation Day celebrations. Former NHRC Member, Mr. P.C. Sharma, who recently completed his tenure, also graced the occasion.
Later, a cultural function was organized to mark the Foundation Day of the Commission. It was an ensemble of in-house and outside talent, which was in full flow for nearly two hours amidst resounding applause.
Justice Balakrishnan said that throughout the 19 years of the journey of the NHRC since its inception in 1993, it has consistently strived hard to broaden the scope and ambit of human rights. Faith of people of this country in the Commission is reflected in the number of complaints it has been receiving over the years. These have steadily grown from 496 complaints in 1993-1994 to 95,174 during the last fiscal, with action having been completed in nearly 94,942 cases.
The Commission has disposed of an estimated 11 lakh cases so far. The phenomenal increase in the number of complaints is also indicative of the growing awareness about human rights.
The NHRC Chair-person said that despite its limited resources, the Commission's constant endeavour has been to make itself accessible to the people as much as possible. The NHRC has had been holding extensive interactions with the government functionaries, representatives of media and civil society working on various human rights issues.
Last year alone, the Commission conducted 149 training programmes to build awareness on human rights and encourage people from different sections of society to work with a rights based approach.
He said that the Commission continues to bring out publications such as its monthly newsletters in English and Hindi, annual journals and manuals to create human rights awareness. It is also in the process of bringing out a handbook on International Human Rights Conventions, besides the glossary in some regional languages containing words relating to human rights issues.
Justice Balakrishnan said that the NHRC uses full range of its instrumentalities to monitor the responsiveness of public servants to human rights. So far, 22 States have set up State Human Rights Commissions. The Commission has written to these State Governments regarding to fill up the vacant posts of Chairperson and Members in the State Human Rights Commissions.
He said that at the international level too, the Commission has, and continues, to play an active role in the promotion and protection of human rights. The NHRC-India is an 'A' Grade Accredited NHRI, and a member of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and also a founder member of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF).
During the year, the Commission actively participated in the annual meetings of these bodies and shared its best practices with the other NHRIs of the region. The NHRC submitted an independent report to the Human Rights Council for the Second Universal Periodic Review and also made a statement in the Plenary Session of the Review.
Justice Balakrishan said that the Commission held interactions with delegations from the National Human Rights Institutions of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Oman and Myamar. The Commission has signed an MoU with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission for capacity-building and technical assistance on specific areas of interest to the Afghanistan Human Rights Commission. It also held discussions with the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions, and other representatives of the UN organizations.
Earlier, Mr. J.S. Kochher, Joint Secretary (Trg.), NHRC welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of the event. NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Members, Mr. Justice B.C. Patel and Mr. Satyabrata Pal gave away prizes to the winners of the children's painting competition organized on the human rights related themes as part of the Foundation Day celebrations. Former NHRC Member, Mr. P.C. Sharma, who recently completed his tenure, also graced the occasion.
Later, a cultural function was organized to mark the Foundation Day of the Commission. It was an ensemble of in-house and outside talent, which was in full flow for nearly two hours amidst resounding applause.