[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO), Kohima, Nagaland vehemently condemned the murder of nine persons whose bodies were recovered by Nagaland Police at Pachaspura near Chumukedima Friday night, the barbaric attempt to murder on Akivito A. Sumi on 28th Dec who later succumbed to his injuries, the 21st December incident where the passengers of a Zunheboto bound taxi were assaulted and injured, the atrocities meted to the Rengma nagas of Karbi Anglong, etc. While observing the International Human Rights Day on 10th December, 2013 at the state capital the President of International Human Rights Organization (IHRO), Kohima, Nagaland Kezhokhoto Savi, Advocate in his speech stated that the significance of observing the International Human Rights Day is the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attentions 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 office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years in the 2013 since its establishment. The UN General assembly created the mandate of High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights in December 1993. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renowned effort in the protection and promotion of human rights. Promoting human rights is one of the core purposes of the United Nations. Mr. Savi said slavery. Poverty, physical torture, destruction of property, killing, hunger, insurgency, sex exploitation, forced labour, child labour, commercial sex exploitation, illiteracy, etc are against human rights. The Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was a great human rights activist who strongly believed and practiced non-violence. One of the great American President Abraham Lincoln was a man who had sacrificed his life for the abolition of slavery. Nelson Mandela is one of the great symbol of human rights of our time whose lifelong commitment to human dignity, equality, freedom & justice. As a human rights activist I pay tribute to these great leaders who have sacrificed their lives for human rights to build a world of all human right for all.
Human rights are fundamental to our every existence without which we cannot live as human beings. The Bills of Rights in the US Constitution, the Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution, etc. are nothing but the natural rights of man. Constitutions are made in order to protect and preserve natural rights of man. The term ‘Human Rights’ is relatively new and it was introduced in the International Law as a result of Second World War. The Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations on 10th December 1948, which recognizes the dignity, equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family. The people of the United Nations have reaffirmed their faith in the fundamental human rights, dignity and worth of human person and also in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote better standard of life.
Are the Nagas literate on human rights and are they able to stand for their own right and gives due respect to the rights of others? The answer is ‘NO’ and we need to programme a vigorous defense and promotion of human rights. Educational Institutions & colleges are to play an active role in promoting peace and justice and social transformation. One of the main problems faced by the citizens of the North-East region is the existence of several insurgent groups and the Central Government imposing the Armed Forces(Special Power)Act, 1958 and amended in 1972. Rights and duties are one of the primary concerns of the human civilization. These are closely connected with liberty, growth, development, dignity, responsibility and welfare of the general community. However, knowledge about human rights is neither popular among the citizens of the State. As a result, violation of human rights is so common that the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is defeated considerable number of times. The techno-hyped societies are progressing fast but the human values are deteriorating miserably. One of the reasons is ignorance about human rights, not only among the illiterates sections but also among the literate and educated ones.
Right to life under the Constitution of Indian & other International Covenants
As per the definition given by section 2(1)(d) and (f) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, right to life is a human right guaranteed by the Constitution of India. ‘Life’ here means “human life” and not mere animal existence. Right to life is guaranteed by Article 21 read with Articles 14, 25, 27 and 28 of the Constitution of India. Article 21 lays down – “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.” Article 21 is the heart of all other fundamental rights, without which all other fundamental rights are meaningless. The term “personal liberty” in Article 21 must be given the widest ambit and scope; as such, the term must be so interpreted as to include each and every liberty which is necessary for the fullest development of human personality. Rights which have been held to be included in Article 21 by the courts in various cases such as; right to self defence, right to shelter, right to live with human dignity, right to livelihood, right to enjoy pollution-free water and air, right of tribal people to social and economic empowerment/development, right to social and economic justice, right to health and social justice of workers, right to economic equality, right of residents of hill areas to access to roads, right to maintenance of health, preservation of sanitation and environment, right to get water, right to be protected by the state when there is threat or danger to life, right against any form of torture or cruel or inhuman or degrading treatment during investigation, interrogation or otherwise in respect of a criminal case, right to go abroad, right to privacy, right against solitary confinement, right to human treatment in prison, right to legal aid, right to speedy trial, right against handcuffing, right against custodial violence, right against to Doctor’s assistance, etc. Right to life includes all those rights that make human life worth living.
Article 6:1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 lays down: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights equally assures right to everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work which ensures not only adequate remuneration and fair wages but also decent living to the workers for themselves and their families in accordance with the provisions of the covenant.
Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights envisages that everyone has the right of standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in the circumstances beyond his control.
Article 46 of the Constitution of India lays down that the State shall promote with special care to the educational and economic interest of the weaker sections of the people, and , in particular, of the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
Human Rights, Development and Democracy
The crying need for the third world is to live in peace and harmony and here human rights and development can move together provided man is conscious of his rights and his social and national responsibilities. Democracy and human rights are correlated to each other. No true democracy can be said to exist unless and until rights are available to the individuals. The rights of individuals may be civil rights, economic rights, political rights and cultural rights. Democracy is based on free debate and open discussion, for that it is the only corrective of government action in a democratic setup. If democracy means government of the people, by the people, it is obvious that every citizen must be entitled to participate in the democratic process and in order to enable him to intelligently exercise his right of making a choice, free and general discussion of public matters is absolutely essentials.
Right to food is a universal human right, which is acknowledged at the regional, national and international levels. The citizen’s right to be free from hunger enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India, is to be ensured by the fulfillment of the obligations of the State set out in Article 39(a) and 47. The right to food is about freedom from hunger. Many poor people around the world are going to die because they do not get enough food to eat. Therefore, food is basic to human existence and that’s why, it received the foremost attention of mankind.
Human right is a symbol of hope the important need of the hour and a violation of human rights has become a day to day event in the society. Creating a safe secured and harmonious environment for the neo-literate is the look of the family, the community, the civilized society and community at large.
Kezhokhoto Savi, President,
International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO), Kohima, Nagaland
