A district level consultation held at Don Bosco Institute, Dimapur
DIMAPUR, JUNE 25: Organized by the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) and supported by CanYouth, a district level consultation on ‘using the law to ensure reproductive and sexual health rights’ was held today at Don Bosco Institute with various prominent speakers who presented on issues and problems related to laws.
Divided into various sessions, the day-long consultations covered various topics and discussions with speakers and audiences.
Retired Judge Supreme Court, HK Sema who spoke on the topic ‘Right to Health as Fundamental Right’ emphasized on Article 19 and Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which provide various basic human rights that cannot be taken away at any cost.
The rights and protection incorporated in the salient features of the Indian constitution are golden principles but unfortunately today the human rights values have become global terrorism as they take away the fundamental of all rights- ‘Right to Live’, lamented the retired Judge.
He said the Article 19 and Article 21 of the Indian constitution include all humans be it high and low, rich and poor, ‘have’ and ‘haven-nots’. Speaking on the topic, Sema said, medical negligence in rural areas is also a violation of article 21 and that anyone can claim compensation. Adding to it he also cited, most of the doctors are confined only in urban areas because of which villagers are unable to avail basic medical benefits.
Right to health is a fundamental right which is inclusive of right to environmental condition including living in a healthy environment which includes free from terror and free from extortion, said the experienced Judge.
Appreciating the growing number of organizations and groups who work towards voicing the grievances of the public, Sema said, in democracy the most powerful movement is the peoples’ movement where no power can ban it at any cost. He said, such is what we need in society in a state like Nagaland.
He however lamented that system in Nagaland is going from bad to worse. He said, situation will improve if the public raise voice against the system.
And that to take care of such issues, the state needs institutes like Human Rights College to take care of such issues.
He said, ‘corruption’ is also against human rights while basic necessities like electricity, water, roads, schools, health centres, etc are parts of right to live.
He opined that the people of Nagaland in general talk a lot about changes but fail to focus on the ground reality.
SDO (Civil) James Swu while exhorting the gathering said, India is a diverse nation because of which problems with diversity have become issues wherein laws conflict various traditions and cultures of the society. He said, customary law has become a problem.
Based on his observations and dealing s with the people, the SDO said the structured functions of all professions who have a major role to play in the society have become a problem because of hatred among each other’s profession.
He advised every individual to work together instead of standing firmly against each other if one wants to experience a change.
ID Gil of Human Rights Law Network while speaking on the introductory remark and objectives of the consultation also briefed on HRLN and the initiatives taken up by the network which was set up in the year 2000 in Nagaland.
He highlighted that the network is actively involved towards bringing aspired changed in the society while fighting against various scams happening within the state.
He said, NRLN Nagaland at present is fighting against 20 cases of public interest litigation case in Kohima.
Highlighting on various issues and problems faced in the society that require justice, ID Gil requested all concerned individuals to join hands and work together for a cause by raising voice on what needs to be corrected. Capacity building within the community is very important towards educating the society on various laws, said the NRLN member.
Vinika Kiho, NRLN Nagaland spoke on ‘Sexual Harassment at Workplace’.
Her Power-Point presentation covered various rights and laws that can be implied if a woman is victimized under such harassment from her opposite sex at workplace.
Few other topics covered during the programme in the later hours of the day included Adolescent sexual and reproductive health, testimonies from affected families and NGOs working at the ground level, Right to Food, HIV and AIDS/Availability of ART, Access to self abortion, Dimapur District Legal Services Authority were among the many topics that made the day-long district level consultation programme.
Women folks from Peren district and various NGOs, advocates, college students and elders participated in the programme.
