Are the people of North East literate enough on human rights and are they able to stand for their own rights and give due respect to the rights of others? The answer is ‘NO’ and we need to programme a vigorous defense and promotion of human rights. The churches, educational institutions and colleges are to play an active role in promoting peace, justice and social transformation. In Nagaland within a span of two weeks, several atrocities and barbaric killings took place, such as the murder of nine persons whose bodies were recovered by Nagaland Police at Pachaspura near Chumukedima on 3rd Jan, 2014, the barbaric attempt to murder on Akivito A. Sumi on 28th Dec 2013 who later succumbed to his injuries, the 21st Dec 2013 incident where the passengers of a Zunheboto bound taxi were assaulted and injured, several rape cases including minor took place, the atrocities meted to the Rengma Nagas of Karbi Anglong from 25th Dec 2013 evening onwards where several women and children were mercilessly killed, thousands were displaced and kept in several relief camps, villages burnt, properties such as agricultural products and crops were destroyed. The 5th March incident where a young man was lynch to dead by a mob and the dead body was tied to the railing in Dimapur, Nagaland on 5th March 2015. Most of the North Eastern states including Nagaland are yet to set up ‘State Human Rights Commission’.
Besides the rest of the country, North East India is an example of being a slaughter house of human rights. Atrocities on women at home and workplace, insurgency, problems of drugs, rape, alcoholism among youths and adults, child abuse and flesh trade, extortion, anti-Indian mentality, delay in receiving justice and growth of non-humanitarian values are dear indication of violation of human rights, which have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity of the North East region. One of the main problems faced by the citizens of this region is the existence of several insurgent groups and the Central Government imposing the Armed Forces(Special Power) Act, 1958, amended in 1972. There are two contradictory views on it. While one group feels that it is necessary to empower the armed forces with special powers in order to combat insurgency movements, the other asserts this extra power given in Act is being misused by the armed forces and has caused too much harm to the civilians. A major theme of the human rights discourse is the Armed Forces(Special Power) Act of 1958 widely seen in the North-East as ‘draconian’. Rights and duties are one of the primary concerns of the human civilization. These are closely connected with liberty, growth, development, dignity, responsibility and welfare of the general community. However, knowledge about human rights is not popular among the citizens of the North-East India. As a result, violation of human rights is so common that the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is defeated considerable number of times. The techno-hyped societies are progressing fast but the human rights, not only among the illiterate sections but also among the literate and educated ones.
Every year the 10th December is observed as International Human Rights Day to bring the attention of the peoples of the world that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renowned effort in the protection and promotion of human rights. Promoting human rights is one of the core purposes of the United Nations. And the core purpose of the United Nations was deliberately failing as Nagaland and several other North Eastern states could not constitute a State Human Rights Commission till date. Even the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi asked every state to set up State Human Rights Commission and had also recommended to incorporate human rights education in state education board syllabus and further urged the NGOs to create more awareness. Human Rights are fundamental to our every existence. To protect human rights is to ensure that people receive some degree of decent, human treatment. However, in many cases public authorities and government official institute policies that violates basic human rights. Such abuses of power by political leaders and state authorities have devastating effects. Slavery, poverty, physical torture, destruction of property, rape, killing, hunger, sex exploitation, forced labour, child labour, commercial sex exploitation, illiteracy, etc. are against human rights. As indigenous people of the land, Article 371A of the constitution of India provides a special provision giving the Naga people rights to protect their own way of life, its land and resources. The various Naga Tribal Councils in Nagaland raised strong voices against the certain notified community as an indigenous tribe of Nagaland is simply the demand to protect the rights of indigenous people as indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.
Basing on the parameters of value, a number of other aspects developed to regulate the behavioural patterns of man. These values such as dignity, liberty, equality, justice, ethics and morals, have had their significant impact to shape the human relations in a society. The main aim and function of law in any society is to regulate the relations between men and to alleviate the intensity of conflicts to promote peace, security, good and orderly behaviour of mankind to establish a conflict free society. In view of the linkage and importance that values play a significant role in the promotion and realization of human rights. Dignity is another value that regulates the behaviour of individuals. In the day to day inter-relationships, individuals are expected to behave with one another in a dignified and honest manner. Equality is another important component of human rights. The aim of the Universal Declaration of Human Right and the constitutions of various countries including India are to treat all the people on an equal footing without any kind of discrimination. Liberty is another concept which plays a vital role in the promotion of human rights. In simple terms, liberty means human beings are free to regulate their relations and are able to govern their relations, behave at their own will, and be responsible for their acts. Ethics and morals are considered as equal concepts. Morals deal with the personal character of an individual. On the other hand, ethics lays its importance on a social system, which regulates the code of conduct of a group of individuals, In other words, the morals need to be applied in each society depending on the values that are acceptable by a society. From the perspective of human rights, the concept of justice, equality and the participation of individuals in the socio-cultural aspects of the community are ethical aspects.
Broadly speaking human rights may be regarded as those fundamental and inalienable rights which are essential for life as human being. Human rights are the rights which are possessed by every human being, irrespective of his or her nationality, race, religion, sex, etc., simply because he or she is a human being. Human rights are thus those rights which are inherent in our nature and without which we cannot live as human being. Human rights and fundamental freedoms allows us to fully develop and use our human qualities, our intelligence, our talents, and our conscience and to satisfy our physical, spiritual and other needs. They are based on mankind’s increasing demand for a life in which the inherent dignity and worth of each human being will receive respect and protection. Human rights are ascribed “naturally” which means that they are not earned and cannot be denied on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity or gender. As per the definition given by section 2(1) (d) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, right to life is guaranteed by the Constitution of India. ‘Life’ here means :human life” and not mere animal existence. Right to life is guaranteed by Article 21 read with Article 14, 25, 27 and 28 of the Constitution of India. Right to food is universal human rights, which is acknowledged at the regional, national and international levels. The citizen’s right to be free from hunger enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India, is to be ensued by the fulfillment of the obligations of the State set out in Article 39(a) and 47. The right to food is about freedom from hunger. Therefore, it is very important for every North Eastern states to effectively implement the National Food Security Act, 2013 without any involvement of wrong diversion and corruption. Many poor people around the world are going to die because they do no not get enough food to eat. Food is basic to human existence and that is why it receives the foremost attention of mankind. Poverty is the main reason for families to send their children to work. Due to child labour is large scale exploitation and deprived of human rights. Children’s rights are human rights. Children are no doubt supreme assets of the country. “Child is the father of man”.
The crying need of the developing world is to live in peace and harmony, and here human rights and development can move together, provided man is conscious of his rights and his social and national responsibilities. Human right is a symbol of hope and the need of the hour as violation of human rights has become a day to day event in the society. Creating a safe, secured and harmonious environment for the neo-literate is the look of the family, the community, the civilized society and community at large. The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was a great human rights activist who strongly believed and practiced non-violence. One of the great American Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was a man who had sacrificed his life for the abolition of slavery. Nelson Mandela was one of the great symbols of human rights of our time whose life was committed to human dignity, equality, freedom & justice. I, Shri. Kezhokhoto Savi as a human rights activist paid my tribute to these great leaders who have sacrificed their lives for human rights to build a world of all human right for all.
THANK YOU.
