NEW DELHI, Dec 10:
President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday flagged the recent incidents of violence against women in the country, saying such heinous crimes force people to think whether the society has lived up to the cherished universal vision of equal rights for all.
In his address at an NHRC function at Vigyan Bhawan here to mark Human Rights Day, he said the ideal way to commemorate the occasion will be for the whole world to “introspect” what more needs to be done to live up in letter and spirit to the “sacred text” of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 to commemorate the UDHR, which was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948 as the shared standard yardstick to protect human rights across the globe.
In his address, Kovind alluded to recent cases of violence against women in various parts of the country, which have triggered shock and protests from citizens, demanding that authorities ensure safety of women in public places.
The president also recalled the contribution of Indian reformer and educator Hansa Jivraj Mehta in shaping the landmark document on UDHR and ensuring it contains a more gender sensitive language.
She is widely credited with making a significant change in the wording of Article 1 of the UDHR, by replacing the phrase “All men are born free and equal” to “All human beings are born free and equal.”
“In the draft of the UDHR, it mentioned, ‘all men…’, and Hansa Mehta insisted that it be changed to ‘all humans…’ making it universal. Today, we owe it to her,” Kovind said, asserting that the country also celebrated 70th anniversary of the adoption of Indian Constitution in November.
The president said more needed to be done to commemorate visionary leaders like Mehta who championed human rights and gender equality.
“We can make a beginning by asking ourselves if we have lived up to her vision of equal rights and equal dignity. Unfortunately, a series of of events in the recent past force us to think again, and incidents of heinous crimes against women are reported from many reports of the country,” he said.
He said such incidents are happening “not just limited to one place or one nation”.
“In various parts of the world. The human rights of people who are vulnerable are being flagrantly violated,” the president said, adding, the whole world needs to “introspect” to mark this day.
Along with such introspection, the society also needs to reinterpret the document and expand the notion of human rights, he said, adding, “All we need is our empathy and imagination.” “I have children and forced labourers, for example, in my mind. Or consider the plights of those lodged in jail, on trial for petty crimes. These issues deserve urgent attention to make a harmonious society in compliance with human rights,” he said. This introspection is indeed essential, but the society also needs to understand its rights, the president said.
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s words, Kovind said the Father of the Nation had said that human rights and duties are two sides of the same coin.
“Our failings in human rights, as in cases of violence against women, often stem from failing on the other side (in our duties),” he said.
NHRC Chairperson Justice H L Dattu, UN Resident Coordinator in India Renata Lok-Dessallien were present on the dais. Army chief Bipin Rawat, members of the diplomatic corps and various human rights activists were present in the audience.
“The number of complaints received by the NHRC has increased from 496 since its inception (in 1993) to 89,584 till 2018-19. The increased number of complaints show a greater awareness among people and their growing faith in the NHRC,” Dattu said in his address. (PTI)
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