UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visits NHRC
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navanethem Pillay visited the office of the Commission on the 23rd March. The NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice S. Rajendra Babu welcomed her and hoped the High Commissioner's visit would open doors for better cooperation and coordination between the NHRC, India and the Office of
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in all matters relating to the protection and promotion of human rights, including strengthening of capacity building within the NHRC. During her hour long stay in the Commission, Ms Pillay held discussions with the NHRC Chairperson, Members and senior officers.
Ms Pillay showed a keen interest in the Commission's activities. She appreciated that the Commission played a major role among the National Human Rights Institutions of the region and paid close
attention to economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights.
During the discussions, Justice Rajendra Babu said that National Human Rights Institutions /International Coordinating Committee should be allowed to participate in their own right in Universal Periodic Review (UPR) proceedings as well as the proceedings of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and other treaty bodies, not clubbed with non-governmental organizations. Ms. Pillay said that she would examine this issue.
Later in the afternoon, addressing a conference of State Human Rights Commissions' Chairpersons and selected Secretaries, public authorities and NGOs, organized by the Commission, Ms Pillay said that
the strength of India's democratic and legal institutions, as well as
that of a highly engaged civil
society and a free press, rests on
solid foundations. India must be proud of its national protection system, which includes the National Human Rights Commission. Ms. Pillay said that the National Human Rights Commission of India
enjoyed a very good reputation in
the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and this was one of the motives
for her visit. She suggested that
the National Human Rights Institutions in the region should work together on common human rights issues such as gender and poverty and share best practices.
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in all matters relating to the protection and promotion of human rights, including strengthening of capacity building within the NHRC. During her hour long stay in the Commission, Ms Pillay held discussions with the NHRC Chairperson, Members and senior officers.
Ms Pillay showed a keen interest in the Commission's activities. She appreciated that the Commission played a major role among the National Human Rights Institutions of the region and paid close
attention to economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights.
During the discussions, Justice Rajendra Babu said that National Human Rights Institutions /International Coordinating Committee should be allowed to participate in their own right in Universal Periodic Review (UPR) proceedings as well as the proceedings of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and other treaty bodies, not clubbed with non-governmental organizations. Ms. Pillay said that she would examine this issue.
Later in the afternoon, addressing a conference of State Human Rights Commissions' Chairpersons and selected Secretaries, public authorities and NGOs, organized by the Commission, Ms Pillay said that
the strength of India's democratic and legal institutions, as well as
that of a highly engaged civil
society and a free press, rests on
solid foundations. India must be proud of its national protection system, which includes the National Human Rights Commission. Ms. Pillay said that the National Human Rights Commission of India
enjoyed a very good reputation in
the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and this was one of the motives
for her visit. She suggested that
the National Human Rights Institutions in the region should work together on common human rights issues such as gender and poverty and share best practices.