Call for action to ensure human rights for all

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 10. The 52nd Human Rights Day was observed here today by the National Human Rights Commission with its Chairperson, Mr. Justice J. S. Verma, calling for concerted action to realise the goal of human rights for all.

Presiding over the function, Mr. Justice Verma said rights violations resulted from inequalities, which existed within the nation and worldwide. The remedy was to ensure transparency in the working of public functionaries.

Human rights for all had been the ethos of Indian culture through the ages. ``What is required is action to realise these human rights,'' he said and added that the primary obligation of protection and promotion of human rights was that of the judiciary. And the NHRC was playing a complementary role. Human rights could not be achieved without empowering all the sections of the society, particularly women.

The Magsaysay award winner and guest of honour, Mrs. Aruna Roy, said there were inequalities in the distribution of wealth and opportunities in India. Regretting that many State Governments had not ensured minimum wages to workers despite the Supreme Court's directions, she said political and social rights should go together with economic rights.

She condemned the recent attacks on rights activists and said the NHRC should ensure that good work being done by such activists and organisations was not undermined by the authorities.

Mr. Bryce Hutchesson, Deputy High Commissioner, Australian High Commission, and Mr. Feodor Starcevic, Director, United Nations Information Centre, were among those who spoke.

Mr. Justice Verma released a handbook on Human Rights for Judicial Officers and U.N. publications on human rights in Hindi.

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Section  : National
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