Security of Defenders is Paramount in Human Right Movement
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| Manoj Jena, HRF |
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| 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 9th December is being observed as
World Human Right Defender’s Day on the eve of World Human Right Day on 10th
December.
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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. 
