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New Delhi : To mark the Human Rights Day, the The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, is organising a programme on December 10, 2021, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The President of India Ramnath Kovind will grace and address the function as the Chief Guest in the presence of NHRC Chairperson Justice Arun Mishra, Members : Justice M.M. Kumar, Jyotika Kalra, Dr D M Mulay, Rajiv Jain, Secretary General. Bimbadhar Pradhan, other senior officers, Members of the Statutory Commission, SHRCs, Diplomats, civil society, among others.
The Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948. It is a global standard yardstick to protect and promote human rights.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, sees in the celebration of Human Rights Day an opportunity for various stakeholders in the world to introspect and look forward to their action and duties to ensure that they do not become reasons for violation of human rights, according to an NHRC release.
The inherent spirit of the UDHR is that all human beings are born free and have right to life, liberty and security of person, equality before law and equal protection of law and freedom of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and expression. This spirit of giving importance to the protection of human rights is also embedded in the Constitution of India from which the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 also derives strength.
Since its inception on October 12, 1993, under the PHRA, the NHRC, India’s contribution to the cause of human rights in the country, in line with the discussions at different world bodies including Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and Asia Pacific Forum (APF), is a well-recognised fact. The impassioned appeal of the NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Arun Mishra, in the recent past that the right to life should prevail over the right of the patent holder in the 48th Regular Session of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in the backdrop of Covid Pandemic, is one such example.
The NHRC, India remains an `A’ grade Accredited National Human Rights Institution with the GANHRI for the promotion and protection of human rights since the process of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the human rights situation in the UN Member Nations began in 2006.
The NHRC, India has consistently striven for ensuring protection of civil and political rights as well as economic, social, and cultural rights. The Commission has also made significant contributions towards mainstreaming a human rights-centered approach in the government policies and programmes as well as for creating human rights awareness and sensitisation among public authorities and civil society through its various programmes and initiatives.
Even during the Covid Pandemic, the Commission continued to engage itself in dialogue with civil society, NGOs, experts, Statutory Commission Members, State Human Rights Commissions, Government functionaries, in line with Covid-19 guidelines, on the issues related with the septic tank and hazardous cleaning workers, bonded labourers, water and sanitation, leprosy affected persons, issues of destitute widows, criminal justice reforms, among others.
The Commission also conducted various meetings reviewing the legal provisions in the country in line with the essence of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Besides, two important research proposals were also approved on Social security and Health Rights of Migrant Workers and Vulnerability, Legal Protection and Work Condition of Domestic Workers during this year.
Since December 1, 2020, to November 30, 2021, the Commission has registered 1,02,441 cases including 16 cases of suo motu cognisance and disposed of 96,804. An amount of Rs 15,35,55,840 has been recommended as relief to the victims of human rights violations in 469 cases.
In line with its endeavour to expand its outreach and expeditious disposal of cases, it has further expanded its HRCNet Portal by taking on board various State Human Rights Commissions to help reduce duplication of complaints and also make easy tracking the status of the complaints.