Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A few people in India understand human rights and what they entail. Rest, specially marginalised sections like tribals, dalits, women and minorities suffer, say human rights activists. On the eve of Human Rights Day, activists said government was violator of human rights and with the media under its control, incidents of human rights violations remained under wraps. Excerpts of what they said.
Make vulnerable sections aware
Asha Mishra: Our Constitution, international agreements give all of us some basic rights and no one can take away those rights from us. Human Rights Day has been reduced to an event. Symposiums and seminars are organised, human chains are formed and matter ends there. The Day should be used by governments and human rights commissions to make vulnerable sections of society aware of their rights.
Media under govt control
Madhuri working with tribal communities for decades: Human rights will stay relevant till human beings exist. Violation of human rights is common in India but we don’t come to know about them because the media is under government control. Constitutional values are under attack but only a few people are taking a stand against it.
Conservative mindset responsible
Human rights activist Neelam: People may not understand legal definition of human rights but they do understand what their basic rights are. People know that they have the right to go anywhere they want to, that they have the right to an education and so on. Conservative mindset is also responsible for certain violations of human rights like not allowing dalits to enter temples.
Custodial violence
Shivani working among Pardhi community: Custodial violence is one of the basic violations of human rights in the country. Every person has the right to food, nutrition and education.
