HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Dec 10
Yajin Bhatt
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10th of December. It was on this day 1948 that U.N. adopted the proclamation for Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The day is normally marked by high level political Conferences, cultural events and exhibitions dealing with Human Rights issues. In addition, it is traditionally on this day Nobel Peace prize and other awards in the field of Human Rights are being distributed to the most deserving. Many organizations, both governmental as well as Non-Governmental organizations active in Human Rights fields, also schedule special events to commemorate the day.
In 2013, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights celebrates 20 years of its founding. The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950 to bring to the attention of the people of the world the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all people and all Nations.
Advocating the cause of Human rights, celebrating Human Rights Day, sometimes puts one in a baffling situation, wherein, the human beings who claim to be at the top of civilization pyramid, need assurance of being humane or the beings with high level mental and emotional capabilities. Human Rights, whatever, our Nationality, place of Residence, sex, National or Ethnic, origin, color, religion, language or any status. All the Human Beings in this earth are entitled to all the Human Rights, without discrimination. These rights are all interdependent, interrelated and indivisible. 1993 Vienna World Conference has pressed upon all Nations of the World to promote and protect all Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, regardless of their political, Economic and Cultural systems. The improvement of one right facilitates the advancement of the others. Likewise, the deprivation of one right adversely affects the operation of the other.
India truly believes in “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”. Our country is also working tirelessly to achieve the objectives of National Human Rights Commission. Our country, a largest democracy reaffirms the faith in Fundamental Human Rights, in dignity and worth of the Human Beings. Lot many NGO’s and Organizations are being run with honest and genuine approach, keeping close watch on the Human Rights Scenario in our country. These organizations ensure that every one has the right of life, liberty and security. Also, no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. They also ensure that every one has the right to effective remedy by the competent National Tribunals for acts violating the Fundamental Rights granted by the constitution or law. But unfortunately, some organizations, in the garb of protecting and promoting Human Rights end up working for their own vested interests than for the humanity as a whole. These organizations, fight for those issues, and those groups, which are in no way beneficial for the growth and prosperity of the country. In their narrow vision, they may be raising their voice against Human Rights violation which ultimately proves fatal for the Human Rights status of the Nation. Ironically, our country has numerous issues which require immediate attention from the Human Rights Organizations. First of all, the problem of Naxalism and Maoists show no sign of abetting. In fact, their so-called legitimate movement is deepening and widening the roots and operations, creating threat to life and property of the people and harming the unity and integrity of the Nation as a whole. One fails to understand that if these groups consider themselves as the suppressed lot that have not reaped the fruits of Development, then why they are destroying schools, hospitals, bridges and roads apart from killing the innocent villagers. Getting support from the uncouth and fake but highly influential Human Rights organizations and activists, they exploit the poor tribal at the local level but over the years have been successfully establishing the International links with unfriendly foreign powers in promoting arms smuggling, drugs trafficking etc. These pseudo Human Rights groups remain mum on these grave concerns.
Another plight which Indian state has inherited to counter with is the Kashmir Issue. The spate of anti-India violence, which is now reeling in its second decade have plunged Kashmir in the state of chaos. With the streets taken over by the rampaging mobs of the Islamic separatists, defying curfew restrictions or the notorious stone palters ready to shower stones at a paltry sum of Rs 300 at the security forces, the situation has deteriorated to a worrisome level. The separatists instigate the youth to assault the security forces, are fully aware of the consequences, which want to use to the advantage of Pakistan by giving rise to the vicious circle of violence. It is shameful that some of our Human Rights activists instead of giving full support to security forces or boosting their morale shower full support towards the Kashmiri separatists and their illegitimate freedom movement.
On the other hand, these Human Rights Activists and Organizations have never ever bothered to just pay a callous visit to the Migrant Camps where Kashmiri Hindus have been sheltered after the forced exodus of 1990. Five lac Hindus, who still are refugees in their own country suffered callous neglect at every level.
Instead of crying for the atrocities over separatists and their illegitimate demands of right for self-Determination, the Human Rights Organizations should also pay heed towards the plight of the west Pak refugees. They are yet another Human Rights concerns predominant on the Indian Soil. Living in Jammu and its surrounding peripherals, these refugees migrated on to the Indian soil with lot many hopes and expectations in the year 1947. Till now, nobody has cared for them and their future. Human Rights people who claim to be the saviors of Humanity have never mentioned them. There are approximately three lakh people who are yet to get their voting rights, their younger generation can’t get admission for higher education, and they are not eligible for govt. jobs. Looking profoundly into the plight of West Pak Refugees its gross violation of many Articles and UN resolution particularly Articles 21 to 26 which speak about right to Nationality, Voting rights, Right to Education and Govt. jobs and much more.
Protection and guaranteed Human rights is the major blessings of any nation and the Govt. of a nation must assure that such rights should not remain inscribed in black and white but should be followed in true letter and spirit. The declarations, the preamble itself and the articles speak clearly of the guidelines what Nations are supposed to do, to ensure that their benefit is percolated down to the masses of each and every Nation. Any organization playing, maneuvering or dishonoring the guidelines set for Human rights shall be dealt with heavy hand; otherwise, this blessing will take no time in transforming into a curse for the Humanity. LIVE and LET LIVE should be the motto of Nations and the fitting tribute to Nelson Mandela, the champion, who struggled to remove the blot of apartheid from the forehead of African Continent and breathed his last on 6thDec 2013.
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