World Human Rights Day At JUHU

Human Rights Day was observed across the world on 10 December 2013 to bring to light the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 2013 Theme of the day is 20 Years Working for Your Rights.

The Progressive Foundation of Human Rights celebrated the day at Citizen Hotel in Juhu, Mumbai. Many eminent personalities attended the programme. 

The Chief Guest Shri S.K.Sharma is currently Head of Anti Money Laundering Govt of India and had been Director Prosecution Central Bureau of Investigation. Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said “The issue of rights of individuals living in societies has been raised and addressed in all periods of history, in all thought systems and in all civilisations. These rights were variously described as natural, inalienable, incontestable, and even sacred. The question always was of their ambit, of their circle of inclusion and exclusion and of the gap between promise and reality. History, said a philosopher, is the unfolding of the idea of freedom. He could have, with equal justice, added the idea of rights.

The great corrective, in conceptual terms, commenced in 1945 with the Charter of the United Nations urging Member-States to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms “for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.

He also said that world over a number of pathbreaking laws protecting human rights have been passed by government in almost all the countries but most of the violations were  made by the governments. It is very important for each individual to know about the rights available to himin the law. He has given example of Right to Silence that means in the event of a person taken in the custody of army or the police, he can not be pressurized to give any statement or confession without presence of his legal counsel and in case he is not in a position to hire one then he government has to provide him a counsel. 

Showing concern over the increasing human rights violation in the society, he elaborated on the need to encourage awareness and education on human rights and duties of the people.

He further continued that people should call the crusaders of human rights violation as human rights warriors.

Another speaker Shri Sharma, who had been advisor to Ex Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, said that instead of just defending out rights, people need to snatch it with people working with a united force against human rights violation, he opined. He also said by and large onus of protecting human rights is on government . He sighted example when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Permbur  South India, Chandra Shekhar staunchly told the entire administration that in case of any loss of property or loss of human life in any place, the local civil authority will be personally held responsible and will have to face severe action. With the result there was no instance of voilance any where in the country very unlike the way there was a loss of property and human life after Indira Gandhi assassination.

Mukesh Pandey, from the Foundation put certain interesting points

 as to why do we should observe Human Rights Day  and objectives are:

• To promote the awareness about human rights among the people all around the world.

• To emphasize the endeavors of the United Nations General Assembly in order to progress the overall human rights conditions.

• To get together and celebrate in cooperation to discuss and highlight the specific issues of the human rights.

To encourage the vulnerable group of people like women, minorities, youth, poor, disabled person, indigenous people and etc to take part in this event celebration and political decision-making.


Giving the background Ms. Pundir, CEO of the foundation gave background of 
Human Rights Day
. She said that 
the UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. The United Nations General Assembly in December 1993 created the mandate of High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights. This year, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years since its establishment.

The General Assembly was acting on a recommendation from delegates to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna in 1993. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renewed effort in the protection and promotion of human rights and it is regarded as one of the most significant human rights documents of the past quarter century.

United Nations Human Rights Prize
The UN Human Rights Prize is given on 10 December to the individuals and organizations in recognition of outstanding achievement in human rights.

On the occasion a number of eminent persons including Ms.Sahila Chadha, Ex Miss India, actor Ali Khan and Sudhir Pandey, Prabhat Pandey General Secretary Western India Film Producers Association, Pradeep Gupta Ex AGM State Bank, Nassem Khan, Head of Minority Commission were honored with Mangal Pandey Samman.