HUMAN RIGHTS DAY FUNCTION

The National Human Rights Commission organized a special function in New Delhi to mark Human Rights Day on 10th December, 2008 which also coincided with 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. Somnath Chatterjee as the Chief Guest released a commemorative postal stamp in observance of 60 years of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights. He also launched an online registration of complaints mechanism with the National Human Rights Commission. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. Chatterjee said, human rights have no meaning if there is no sustainable development. Unfortunately the fruits of development have failed to reach all citizens in the same proportion. He appreciated the work being done by the National Human Rights Commission in ensuring promotion and protection of human rights and underscored the challenges ahead. Mr. Chatterjee expressed serious concern over the human rights violations of women and children. Condemning terrorism as a natural enemy of human rights with a reference to the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, the Lok Sabha Speaker described it as a most reprehensible act and violation of a human beings basic right to life and security.
On the occasion the Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr. A. Raja said, India struggles in its own way on its path of progress and in its endeavor for ensuring human rights of all its citizens. He expressed hope that through the commemorative stamp of the Department of Posts, the message of Universal Declaration of Human Rights will reach to the people of India and the world. Earlier, in his welcome address the NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice S. Rajendra Babu said, there is a wide gap either in the law or in the programme and the people. The Commission is enjoined with a duty to monitor such programmes and effectively bring them closer to the people concerned and needy. In this context, he said, various programmes have been conducted by the Commission to bring awareness on human right issues. These range on various topics as Food Security, Right to Health, Right to Education, Hygiene and Sanitation, Custodial Justice, Rights of Women Children or Elderly or Disabled persons, Rights of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes etc.
The Secretary General, NHRC, Mr. A.K. Jain read out the message of the President, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil on the occasion.
The message of UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon was also read out by a UN Representative. In his message Mr. Ban Ki-moon said, rights and especially their violation must hold the whole world in solidarity.
Both the guests released a number of NHRC publications on the occasion.These included Annual Journal of NHRC, both in Hindi and English, booklet of Universal Declaration of Human Rights in eight different languages-Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali and English. A book on proceedings of NHRC workshop on Detention, three bilingual pamphlets in Hindi and English on NHRC's recommendations on Rights to Education, Manual Scavenging and Sanitation and Detention were also released. The release of NHRC's wall calendar and desk calendar 2009 based on the theme of Mahatama Gandhi's approach and vision on human rights was another attraction on the occasion. The NHRC also presented memento to Mr. Chatterjee and Mr. A. Raja marking the 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Several dignitaries including the Members of the Commission and Senior Officers were present at the function.
The National Human Rights Commission organized several events in observance of 60 years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human Rights Race on 7th December, 2008 was one such event organized in this connection.