Human Rights Division

Guidelines on Communal Harmony

Guidelines on Central Scheme for Assistance to the Victims of Terrorist and Communal Violence

Acts

• The Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993
• The Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991
• The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
• The Religious Intitution (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988

National Integration Council 

KABIR PURASKAR

• Kabir Puraskar Scheme

• Kabir Puraskar Awardees

COMMUNAL HARMONY AWARDS

• Communal Harmony Awardees

Terms and Conditions for Essay Competitions in the cause of National Integration and Communal Harmony 

Terms and Conditions for Grant of Assistance to Voluntary Organizations/Institution/Universities and other Educational Institutions for activities in the cause of National Integration  

National Human Rights Commission

OVERVIEW

• Ancient concept - Vedas, Puranas and other ancient literature - essential ingredient of Indian culture and ethos.
• The Constitution of India - Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of the State Policy - Part-III and Part-IV - Basic Structure of the Constitution.
• Entire gamut of civil and political rights - as in International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - covered under The Constitution - Part-III - enforceable by the Judiciary.
• Protection and promotion of human rights - specially the weaker and vulnerable sections of society - paramount concern.
• Other Constitutional/Systemic Arrangements - Parliamentary Democracy - Balance of Power among Legislature, Executive and Judiciary - Strong and Independent Judiciary.

International Covenants / Conventions / Treaties Ratified / Acceeded / Signed by India

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
• The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) – Ratified on 10th April, 1979
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – Acceded on 10th April, 1979.
• The International Convention on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination – Ratified on 3rd December, 1968.
• The Convention on Rights of the Child.
• The Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women – Signed on 30th July, 1981.
• Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment – Signed on 8th October, 1997.
• International Covenant on Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid – Acceded to on 22nd September, 1977.
• The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment on the Crime on Genocide – Ratified on 27th August, 1959.
• Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity – Signed on 12th January, 1971.
• Slavery Convention ratified 18th June, 1927.
• Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25th September, 1926.
• Supplementary Convention on the Evolution of Slavery, Slave Trade and Institutions and Practice similar to Slavery – Ratified on 23rd June, 1960.
• Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of others – Ratified on 9th January, 1953.
• Convention on the Nationality of the Married Women - Signed on 15th May, 1957.
• Convention on the Political Rights of the Women – Ratified on 1st November, 1961.

Emphasis and Steps on Human Rights

• Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
• The National Commission for Minorities Act, 1990.
• The National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Constitution 65th Amendment Act, 1990.
• Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
• The National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
• Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
• Special Institutional Arrangements - established by law for weaker & vulnerable sections - look into grievances/complaints - make recommendations.
• National Commission for Women.
• National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• National Commission for Minorities.
• National Commission for Safai Karmacharis.
• National Commission for Minorities.
• National Human Rights Commission.
• Advice to the State Governments - set up - State Human Rights Commissions - nominate Human Rights Court in each district.
• Ten State Governments already set up Commission - Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal.
• Exclusive Human Rights Cell in MHA - 1993 - coordinate and implement the policy matters on Human Rights.
• Strict Directives to Armed and Para Military Forces - allegations/complaints looked into - inquiries made promptly - firm action against the guilty.
• Armed, Para Military, and Police - Emphasis on Training/Orientation - efforts of State Governments - supplemented - funds under modernisation of police programme.
• Transparency in matters dealing with Human Rights.
• Open and transparent policy in human rights matters.
• State of J&K - large scale militancy and violence in early 1990 - no restrictions imposed on outsiders/foreign visitors/journalists - no prior permission required.
• June, 1995 - Memorandum of Understanding with the International Committee of the Red Cross - humanitarian grounds - unrestricted access to all jails/detention centres in Jammu & Kashmir - meet detenues - so far 252 visits to 44 detention places - met 5,621 detenues - many of them more than once.
• 1995 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - Mr. Jose Ayala Lasso invited - three day visit to J&K and Punjab - J&K - met the Governor, leaders of political parties, military officials, Hurriat leaders, members of public, bar councils and NGOs - Punjab - met the Chief Minister and members of human rights organisations - expressed appreciation of India s policy of transparency and openness in protection and promotion of human rights - appreciated that no restrictions placed on his travel/meetings - appreciative of the work of NHRC.
• 1996 - Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission of Human Rights on Religious Intolerance - Mr. Abdalfattah Amor invited - visited the States of J&K, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra - met Government officials, members of the public, NGOs, Members of NHRC- detailed interaction on related issues. During 1998 - about 80 foreign diplomats, 122 foreign journalists, and 6,039 foreign tourists visited.
• 15th to 17th February, 1999 - Ms. Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner of Human Rights - attended the Seventh Asia Pacific Workshop of Regional Cooperation for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights - hosted by the Government of India - met the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the External Affairs Minister and Chief Justice of India - extensive interaction with Chairman and Members of NHRC - interacted with women s organisations/NGOs active in the field of human rights - statement at the end visit - a host of national remedies available within the country for the redressal of violation of human rights - praised NHRC - a role model for National Human Rights Institutions not only within the region but in other parts of the world - conviction - political leadership in India can tackle alleged human rights violations.
• 2000 - The UN Special Rapporteur on violation against women visited India to study the position of trafficking in women and girls. A nodal officer has been appointed in this Ministry to coordinate issues relating to the legal framework required to effectiveely tackle the problem of trafficking in women.

50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• National Action Plan prepared - National Committee under the Chairmnaship of the Home Minister - Secretaries from various Ministries and Departments, representatives of Universities/NGOs - based on the principle - enhance human rights awareness, develop human rights education at school and university levels, strengthen capacities of National Institutions, act as a catalyst to encourage interaction among various sections of the society.
• During the year of celebration, starting from 10th December, 1997, various activities were undertaken.
• A National Committee - Chairmanship of the Home Minister - set up and a National Plan of activities drawn.
• Created a logo for celebration of 50th Anniversary of UDHR - released by the Home Secretary.
• UDHR Logo printed on computerised railway reservation tickets.
• A radio jingle/spot on UDHR for broadcast through All India Radio produced.
• A wall-hanger containing the Articles of UDHR printed.
• AIR & Doordarshan - coverage of various functions on human rights at National and State level - special programmes on various facets of human rights - quickies, spots, plays, documentaries, quiz, panel discussions, poetic symposia and captions.
• A first day cover on UDHR designed and issued on 5.3.98.
• A special commemorative postage stamp released - postal stationery carrying the message All Human Rights for All printed and released - 16.11.1998 - sale all over India.
• Department of Telecommunication - special provisions for out of turn allotment of telephone - senior citizens and physically handicapped persons.
• Preference given - allotment of STD/ISD PCO to handicapped, SCs/STs, Ex-Servicemen, War Widows, dependents of freedom fighters, Charitable Institutions, hospitals.
• Telecom network in the tribal areas improved.
• Stress on the subject of human rights - items presented during Youth Parliament Sessions by institutions participating in various Youth Parliament Competitions.
• Reorientation of School Syllabus - infuse elements of Human Rights - undertaken by NCERT.
• Work relating to curriculum framework for school textbooks in progress.
• Primary school textbooks in Hindi - chapters on Human Rights issues relating to health, environment, physically handicapped, dignity of labour.
• Secondary stage - basic framework of various courses and textbooks - promote an understanding of the various aspects and dimensions of Human Rights.
• Higher secondary stage - specialised study of subjects of students choice - framework of each subject - relevant aspects and dimensions of Human Rights included.
• School textbooks under review - delete references which might disrupt communal harmony.
• February, 1998 - compilation of the text of major historical, International and National documents/treaties - Manav Adhikar-Srot Granth - brought out in Hindi - important documents on human rights made available to Hindi readers - first time.
• A three-day workshop for teachers - September, 1998 - evolve programmes that schools may take up as a part of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of UDHR.
• An All India Essay Competition for Students on the subject of Human Rights organised - essays invited from students of secondary and higher secondary classes - Hindi, Urdu or English - cash prizes awarded by the Prime Minister to the winners in the closing function of UDHR on 10th December, 1998.
• A folder-cum-poster prepared - historical background and perspective of Human Rights through visuals and full text of UDHR.
• Steps initiated - University Grants Commission - introduce Human Rights education in Universities and Colleges - grants for starting courses and research work - organising workshops, seminars, symposia - allocation Rs.15 million per annum - Master s Course in 10 Universities, Diploma Course in 25 Universities & Certificate Course in 5 Universities supported.
• National Council for Teacher Training - modules in Human Rights for teachers education - already translated in Hindi - translation in other Indian languages underway.
• Teaching aids - charts, posters, audio/video programmes - for elementary and secondary level teachers training developed.
• A monograph series on Human Rights and Indian values for teachers education published by NCTE in November, 1997.
• Indira Gandhi National Open University - seminars and workshops on Human Rights education - proposes to produce course material and video/audio visual programmes on Human Rights for distance learning.
• National Book Trust organised a book stall in the World Book Fair during 7-14th Febraury, 1998 on the subject of Human Rights.
• A special package envisaged by NBT - printed material, video and audio-visual programmes for neo-literates.
• Publication of the books on Human Rights - NBT - Questions and answers by Leah Levin - special programme for rural readers - a book on Civil Rights in Punjabi - neo-literates - a book entitled Badlao Ka Adhikar in various Indian languages.
• National Literacy Mission - topic on literacy and human rights included for discussion in the Second Asia Regional Literacy Forum held during 9-13 February, 1998.
• Scheme - formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - creation of awareness and affording certain rights to HIV positive persons under the National AIDS Prevention and Control Policy.
• Seminar organised - Ministry of Home Affairs - 16th November, 1998 - Vigyan Bhavan - Respect for Human Rights by the Para-Military Forces in a Conflict Situation .
• Sub-Regional Workshop of South Asian countries on Human Rights Education in schools - jointly organised by NHRC with an NGO of Japan - 15-18 October, 1998 - New Delhi - delegates from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and India participated.
• Seminar on Protection of Human Rights: A Critique - organsised by the Indian Social Institute - New Delhi - collaboration with NHRC - 13-14th November, 1998.
• MHA wrote to all the Ministries/Departments to review Statutes/Acts under their administrative control to bring them at part with the international human rights standard.
• MHA requested all the States/UTs to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner - suggested that the week starting from 04.12.98 be celebrated as Human Rights Week all over the country.
• The Lok Sabha Secretariat brought out a publication entitled India and Human Rights .
• To mark the closing of the 50th Anniversary of the UDHR, a function was organsied at Siri Fort Auditorium on 10th December, 1998 - brochure entitled 50th Year of Human Rights released by the Prime Minister at the function - exhibition of books, materials and paintings prepared by the inmates of Tihar Jail organised.

UN Decade on Human Rights Education

The Coordination Committee Chaired by the Union Home Secretary - Secretaries from other Ministries and Departments - set up to draw a National Action Plan. As a part of this programme a comprehensive acction plan to spread Human Rights education and generate mass awareness about human rights is under preparation. Steps have been taken to sensitise the Police and Central Para-Military Forces towards human rights values. Prasar Bharati has agreed to allot a 30 minutes slot, on first Monday of every month for telecasting programmes on human rights. Programmes on human rights were teelecast on 3.7.2000, 7.8.2000, 4.9.2000, 2.10.2000, 6.11.2000, 4.12.2000, 1.1.2001 and 5.2.2001 on DD-I.

Watchdog Mechanism

Free and vibrant press/media - large number of NGO - actively pursue the promotion and protection of human rights - watchdog mechanism to ensure the preservation of rights of individual - fixes accountability on the Government agencies.1

<< Back