| Gender equity | Award | Publication | Van Gujjar Primary School | Convocation |  | Links | Home | mail us |
Guest Speakers at RLEK Human Rights Center
The RLEK Human Rights centre was inaugurated by Hon'ble Mr. Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, then Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), former Chief Justice of India and presently Chairman of Constitutional Review Committee,on 2nd October 1999. The object of the Centre is to induce a Human Rights culture where all citizens have respect for each others' basic rights. The Centre aims to inculcate respect for human rights, especially in people holding positions of power, thereby preventing Human Rights violations. Where Human Rights have been transgressed, the Centre aims to provide all necessary services to obtain effective redressal.
The Centre will act as an independent agency to create awareness about Human Rights and to supplement the initiatives of the National Human Rights Commission and the various State Commissions. It has already succeeded in making the Government activate the district level Human Rights courts in the state of Uttar Pradesh and will support similar steps in other parts of the country.
"Survival of the fittest", a natural phenomenon described by Charles Darwin, has characterized the living world since its inception. The economically, socially, politically, physically and spiritually weak have always been subject to oppression by the stronger sections of society. This outlook is inherent in all areas of social life and continues to govern societies and individuals worldwide. Furthermore, it has been internalized by most societies and is fundamental to the capitalist worldview, with the result that most people fail to see the injustices and inequalities inherent in this concept. In order to work towards the goal of an egalitarian society, it is imperative to address these inequalities at all levels. At one level, there is a need for sensitizing the violators and at the other, for empowerment of potential victims of human rights violations, so that their voices may be heard and their basic rights upheld.
Most States have rejected the concept of Human Rights as being of Western origin, but the better read would agree that the mention of certain inherent rights (not only law of the land) - the concept and theme - finds mention in the ancient scriptures of all civilizations. Thus, it is not a term that has been borrowed from the west, but is a fundamental component of all responsible societies. Sensitization of individuals, societies and states is essential to stand up against the human rights violators and to be able to safeguard the basic human rights of every human being.
RLEK has been working with marginalised sections of society for the past three decades. Based upon extensive experience, it realized that the primary cause of rampant violations of Human Rights was lack of awareness amongst the communities about their rights. It has found that in many cases of human rights violations, the victims were unaware of the fact that their rights were being violated. Moreover, there are very few official or voluntary agencies involved in spreading awareness at the grass root level about human rights issues or working to sensitise organizations and individuals with power.
RLEK realized that there was a need for well-informed and committed young men and women to create awareness amongst the most marginalized communities about human rights issues and to collectively work for protecting and upholding the human rights of all. With this aim in mind, the Centre introduced a Post Graduate Diploma Course in Human Rights. The ten-month full time Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights being offered by the Centre looks at Human Rights in the global perspective as well as in the context of the South Asian region. The course is recognised by the renowned Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan.
The first six months of the course consist of lectures and classroom discussions, followed by field visits to the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission for Women, the National Commission for Minorities and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. After this, participants undergo a two-month placement with an NGO or other institution working in the field of human rights. This provides each student with valuable practical experience in the application and working of human rights in society and allows them to put their knowledge into practice. On their return, students have time to complete their dissertations, before appearing for examinations.
A review committee composed of eminent personalities, with a vast amount of experience in the field of Human Rights, has been entrusted with the task of reviewing and updating the syllabus. Mr. Justice V.S. Malimath, also the Chairman of the Review Committee of the University Grants Commission for their syllabus on Human Rights, is the convener of this review committee. The other members of the committee are Mr. Justice P. N. Bhagwati, Mr. Justice Ranganath Misra, and Dr. Faizan Mustafa. The course comprises of six papers:
Human Rights Theory
International Human Rights Law
Human Rights and Civil Liberties in India
Human Rights of Women and Children
Human Rights of Tribal and Indigenous Groups
International Humanitarian and Refugee Law
It is a unique course in terms of the course content and design as well as in terms of the composition of the participants. Each year 30 participants, from the SAARC countries, undertake this course. In the first two batches, the course had two participants (one male and one female) from Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, in addition to participants from various parts of India. The participants from Sri Lanka are nominated by Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, Leader of Opposition, Government of Sri Lanka, from Nepal by Mr. Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Former Prime Minister of Nepal and from Bangladesh by Mr. Kamal Hossain, Former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh.
The first Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights was inaugurated on 27 May 2000, by Hon'ble Mr. Justice U.C. Banerjee, Judge Supreme Court of India. The Hon'ble Justice inaugurated the second course on 30th May 2001. In addition to the permanent faculty, leading jurists, Supreme Court Judges, former chairpersons of the NHRC and UN officials are acting as Professors Emeritus and Visiting Speakers, In fact each year UNICEF sponsors six guest speakers for delivering lectures to the participants. Moreover, since RLEK is working with marginalised communities in Uttaranchal, the participants get the opportunity to visit these people, with the RLEK team, gaining firsthand experience of the problems and difficulties encountered by communities in achieving their rights.
Mr. Justice P. N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India and Chairman of the United Nation's Human Rights Committee awarded the diploma to the participants of the first PG Diploma Course in Human Rights in the convocation ceremony at RLEK Human Rights Center on 19 September 2001. On this occasion, he also laid the foundation for an International Hostel for the Human Rights Course.
Each year RLEK also organizes lectures on Human Rights to pay tribute to Late Justice J. K. Mathur. During the year 2001, Mr. Justice A. S. Anand, the then Chief Justice of India, spoke on "The role of judiciary in protection of human rights."
The participants of the Second Batch also participated in the Inaugural General Congress of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), at New Delhi on 11-12th November 2001. They interacted with eminent personalities working in the sphere of human rights including Noble Laureate Dr. Amartya Sen and Ms. Asma Jehangir.
After undergoing the course not only have the participants have been able to pursue rewarding careers but are also working as human rights defenders. One alumnus is working with the Nepal Human Rights Commission, and another as the Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Aid, Sri Lanka. Some are also pursuing further education in the field of Human Rights and others have even set up their own NGOs. It is expected that the current participants will also go on to be high achievers.
The United Nations has declared 1995-2005 to be the decade of Human Rights Education. Consequently there is an increasing demand for people who are equipped academically and practically in the field of Human Rights. However, few Universities have taken up Human Rights as a formal course
This course will provide Organisations and institutions with people who are dedicated and committed to protecting Human Rights and are also technically qualified in the field.The RLEK Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Human Rights will be a full time residential course of one year.Two noteworthy features of this course are: first, it is being conducted by an organisation that has worked directly with Human Rights issues and is therefore able to offer a practical perspective. Second, by placing students with local and national NGOs the course allows them to participate first hand in the defence of Human Rights
Head Office:-
68/1, Suryalok Colony, Rajpur Road, Dehra Dun 248 001 Uttaranchal
Phone: 91 135 2746071, 2745539,
FAX 91 135 2741931, 2746881
Maintained by
RLEK's Webmaster