Human Rights Education important in spreading awareness

Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, has stressed on the importance of Human Rights Education in spreading awareness amongst the masses, about their human rights, as also of their duties of respecting the rights of others. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Studies set up by the West Bengal National University of Juridical Services in Kolkata on 26 June 2004.
In his speech, Dr. Anand said that knowledge of human rights is the surest defence against the danger of these rights being trampled on. Learning about one's own rights, he said, builds respect for the rights of others and gives one the courage and confidence to assert them. He also said that institutions of higher education like universities have a great role to play in spreading human rights education. Dissemination of knowledge of human rights and duties must aim at bringing about attitudinal change in human behaviour, he said.
The Chairperson also observed that until recently, the study of human rights remained largely confined to international lawyers, diplomats and statesmen but, now these rights are increasingly being the subject of concern for legal fraternity, academicians, researchers, policy makers and voluntary organizations. He stressed that human rights education cannot merely be an intellectual exercise, it must act as a link between education in a classroom and developments in society. He stated that it is now being realized that human rights have a significant role in the national planning.
Later, the Chairperson inaugurated the training programme on 'Sensitization for Judicial Officers on Human Rights' organized with assistance from the NHRC. 30 Judicial Officers of the rank of Judicial Magistrate, Additional Chief Magistrate, including 5 lady officers, participated in the programme which was organized from 26 - 28 June 2004 at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. The Programme was aimed at helping them to create Human Rights culture in courts and encouraging them to apply International Instruments so that there are no inconsistencies between the international human right laws and domestic laws.