Human Right Defender’s Day Observed

Security of Defenders is Paramount in Human Right Movement

Manoj Jena, HRF

Justice BK Mishra , OHRC

Human Right Defenders play pivotal role in prevention of human right violation even working against all odds for which their security becomes a concern for the society. Due to increased vigilant role played by Human Right Defenders in remote areas there is a demonstrative increase in the situation of Human Right. The above statements emerged in a deliberation organised jointly by Human Right Front (HRF) and Committee for Legal Aid to Poor (CLAP) on the eve of World Human Right Day on 9th December 2014 at Redcross Bhavan,Bhubaneswar. It is pertinent to mention that globally 9^th December is being observed as World Human Right Defender’s Day on the eve of World Human Right Day on 10^th December.

The human right violations are manifested in various forms due to the situation of poverty with ignorance among a vast chunk of rural and tribal population. Even though there is a fundamental shift made in the nature of violation due to consistent initiative of Human Right Organisation still gross human right violations are being witnessed. The state endeavours to protect Human Right Defenders whose life is at risk for their relentless effort to prevent human right violation said Justice Bira Kishore Mishra, Acting Chairperson of Odisha State Human Right Commission in his inaugural speech.

With the enactment of Whistle Blowers Act there has been an expectation of human right defenders that larger security in terms of protection by the state to the Defenders would be made available. The state must take steps for early enforcement of the Whistle Blowers Act said Dr. Bikash Das, Executive President of CLAP. Dr. Das said that human right defenders are entitled to special protection and the Human Right Commissions at the union and state level must address the issue of defenders.

The Deliberation on Role of Human Right Defenders and the mechanism for their protection was addressed by chairperson of Human Rights Front Manoj Jena, Senior Advisor of Election Commission of India  Dr. Bhagawanprakash, convenor of Agami Odisha Sudarshan Das, Advisor Gotimukti Andolan Baghambar Pattnaik, and Human Right Defenders of Odisha Akhand, Bhajaman Biswal, Sanyasi Behera, Somnath Pattnaik etc. On  this occasion, the second Justice Ranganath Mishra Memorial Award on Human Right was conferred on Justice Bira Kishore Mishra for his outstanding accomplishment. The defenders present in the deliberation also paid their tribute to the legendry Jurist and former Judge of Supreme Court Justice V.K. Krishna Iyer who passed away recently. Sandeep Mohanty  of Human Right Front offered Vote of Thanks in the end of the programme.