Human Rights Defenders' Workshop<br> <br>

As part of Commission's Foundation Day celebrations, a workshop of Human Right Defenders was organized on the 12th October, 2009 in New Delhi. Since its establishment, the National Human Rights Commission has evolved as a bridge between the government authorities and public, including human rights defenders, in protecting and promoting human rights of all.

The UN Declaration on human rights defenders in the year 1998, commonly known as 'Declaration of Human Rights Defenders' envisaged that 'everyone has a right individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels.' However, the human rights defenders have been facing many challenges, and the aim of the workshop was to have a debate on such challenges and related issues.

Inaugurating the Workshop, the former Chief Justice of India and former Chairperson, NHRC, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand lauded the role of human rights defenders and said many of them have suffered persecution by the authorities worldwide. In India, the National Human Rights Commission has played a positive role in protecting them. However, he cautioned that there is a need to draw a clear line of distinction among the genuine human rights defenders and those who wear their garb.

Dr. Justice Anand, emphasized that human rights are inclusive of social, economic and cultural rights. He called upon the people to come forward and respond to the necessity of protecting human rights as every citizen is a defender of human rights.

Earlier, welcoming him, the Acting Chairperson of NHRC, Justice Shri G.P. Mathur said that development with social justice cannot be achieved in absence of respect for human rights. There has to be an enabling environment which is legally, politically, economically and socially sensitive in the local context for realization of right to development. He added that human rights violations anywhere should be concern of every civilized member of society. Every individual has to become a human rights activist to ensure that the fundamental rights, guaranteed under the constitution of India, are not taken away illegally from the people.
Describing the Foundation Day of the Commission as a historic day, Justice Shri Mathur said that the Commission continues to imbibe and promote the values of humanity and an environment where there is a sense of responsibility without any fear and discrimination. He observed that the growing number of complaints of human rights violation each year since the inception of the Commission shows the trust the fellow countrymen have reposed in it.

The workshop was divided in two technical sessions - 'Obligation of the State and Human Rights Defenders', and 'Issues of human rights defenders and suggestive measures'. Prominent speakers including the representatives of human rights defenders, jurists and members of the Commission spoke on various aspects of the subjects. Some of the important observations during the workshop were as follows:

" Training programmes may be envisaged to sensitise the government agencies about the roles, functions and obligations of human rights defenders.

" Complaints of human rights violations reported by the human rights defenders should be dealt on priority basis.

" There is a need to set up a Focal Point for Human Rights Defenders, preferably in NHRC-India and SHRCs so that human rights defenders can reach out for support. The focal point could be a toll free number, e-mail id, etc.

" Human rights defenders should focus more attention on human rights violations by non State actors.

" There is a need to pay more attention to the rights of children and persons with disabilities by the human rights defenders.