The Human Rights Day is observed on the 10th December every year to bring to the attention of the people of world towards the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948 as the common standard of achievement.
The Declaration is recognition of the fact that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world and reaffirmation of faith of the people of United Nations in the fundamental human rights.
The slogan of this year’s Human Rights Day – “Human Rights 365″, encompasses the idea that every day is Human Rights Day. It celebrates the fundamental position in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values.
During the last 21 years, the Commission has endeavored to promote a culture of human rights. The Commission has earned the trust and confidence of the people in substantial measure given the number of complaints it has been receiving each year. The Commission disposed of 13 lakh 70 thousand 391 cases till the 30th November, 2014 out of 14 lakh 9 thousand 476 cases registered by it either suo motu or on complaints or on intimation by the prison and police authorities.
Its functions also include reviewing safeguards provided under the Constitution or any Law, make recommendations for effective implementation of International Conventions/Covenants, undertake research and organise seminars and discussion programmes on human rights issues, spread human rights awareness and encourage efforts of non-governmental organisations.
It has also been organising Camp Sittings for disposal of pending cases and Open Hearings of complaints of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in different parts of the country for redressal their problems. It has also been visiting 28 select districts, one in each State with a view to spread human rights awareness and also to make an assessment of enforcement of various measures related to human rights and implementation of welfare schemes.
It has made a number of interventions on key issues of human rights, which include, among others, issues of bonded and child labour, prison reforms, right to health, mental healthcare, rights of persons with disability, silicosis, illegal clinical drug trials, pricing of drugs, corporate-social responsibility, manual scavenging and sanitation, human rights of women.
In order to spread awareness about human rights and its activities, the Commission, apart from publication of monthly Newsletter in Hindi and English, has published more than 72 books and journals. Several organizations, NGOs and media have actively supported the NHRC for achieving its goals.