Kezhokhoto Savi
Human right are the basic rights and freedom to which all humans are considered entitled, the right to life, freedom of thought and expression and equal treatment before the law, are some among others. These rights represent entitlements of the individual or group, as well as responsibilities of the individual and the government authorities. Such rights are ascribed “naturally” which means that they are not earned and cannot be denied on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity or gender. Every year the 10th December is observed ass International Human Rights Day to bring to 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 government could not constitute a State Human Rights Commission(SHRC) till date. Human Rights are fundamental to our every existence without which we cannot live as human beings. 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.
The President of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation(NVCO) & Convenor ACAUT Nagaland(legal cell) Kezhokhoto Savi said that the churches, educational institutions and colleges in Nagaland are to play an active role in promoting peace, justice and social transformation. Atrocities on women at home and workplace, insurgency, problems of drugs, alcoholism among youths and adults, child abuse and flesh trade, extortion, anti-Indian mentally, delay in receiving justice and growth of non-humanitarian values are dear indication of violation of human rights. Slavery, poverty, physical torture, destruction of property, 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. A major theme of the human rights discourse is the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act widely seen in the state as ‘draconian’. The law comes into force in any part of India that is declared to be ‘disturbed’ by the state. It allows anyone of any rank in the army, or a paramilitary force under its operational command, to shoot, arrest or search without warrant – even to kill on the basis of suspicion alone. A unique form of protest against the Act is demonstrated by the Mainpuri poet, Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been recently ended her 16 years fast against the Armed Forces(Special Power) Act on August 9, 2016. Rights and duties are one of the primary concerns of the human civilization. However, knowledge about human rights is not popular among the citizens of the state. 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 and one of the reasons is ignorance about human rights, not only among the illiterate sections but also among the literate and educated ones. Article 21 of the constitution of India is the heart of all other fundamental rights, without which all other fundamental rights are meaningless. Right to life includes all those rights that make human life worth living.
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, the different concepts of values are examined in brief; Human Values: In general, we think of values that are commonly followed by us in day to day life. This value vary from person to person depending on their experiences and circumstances in which they grow. However, there are certain basic values which are common to all. They are life, liberty, security, freedom and success, security to life, kindness, pain and pleasure. Depending on the circumstances, which each person grow up considers which value is important to him. But adhering to values which is important to all, in the longer run develop a society, to establish peace for the progressive all round development of all the sections of a society. This will help to learn to live with unity in diversity.
Dignity is another value that regulates the behaviour of individuals. Dignity is a relative term with regulatory nature. It prescribes the norms and ethical standards need to be followed and adopted. In the day to day inter-relationships, individuals are expected to behave with one another in a dignified and honest manner. This concept dictates that everyone of us has to exercise due caution and care in our relations without undermining the capacities of other person. Further, it teaches us not to create a situation wherein others are made to undergo either emotional, psychological, physical, tense situations or to harm their personality.
Equality is another important component of human rights. From ancient to modern times, people are fighting to achieve this in terms of its practical application to each situation. In general, equality proposes to bring all the people into one category, and apply the principle of law, and justice without any distinction whatsoever it may be among the individuals. Equality is a relative concept which may be distinguished basing on a number of factors, and the enjoyments of rights on an equal footing. 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. This may be referred to formal equality. Wherein in the eyes of law are equal. Although all people are numerically considered as equal in the eyes of law in providing the amenities or distribution of resources, all may not be considered or treated as equal in reality. This is because of the socio-economic political and cultural conditions that prevails in each society. In order to up lift the people who are not equal on any ground specified above, they need to be given certain concessions and facilities to improve their states and to reach the equal status with that of others who are on a high pedestal.
Liberty is another concept which plays a vital role in the promotion of human rights. Liberty is an ancient concept. This concept has its roots in the political philosophy. 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. But if the acts are bad or performed with an intention to defray anybody or deprive them of their legal claims, they not only affect the rights of others, but also of their own in the long run.
Ethics and morals are considered as equal concepts. However, there exists a subtle difference between these two. 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. Accordingly, every human being in a society is responsible at all times to strive to achieve human rights as a moral or ethical subject of society. Ethics is a normative science of human conduct in society which differentiates between right and wrong, good or bad, proper or improper. The standard, which makes one to differentiate good from bad or right from wrong is a value. Ethics with reference to human right presupposes freedom as a necessary pre-conditions. A free man can take his decision of action and such a decision can be evaluated as good or bad, right or wrong, proper or improper. Goodness is the highest of value. Goodness is objective, universal and rational. Some basic values are courage, tolerance, benevolence, kindness and friendship. This brief discussion of the various concept highlight the significance that human rights can never be achieved in total until and unless all the people of the united Nations, discharge the responsibilities with utmost sincerity. This in turn enables us to achieve, universalization of human rights without any kind of deviation to race, sex, language, religion, region, etc. This leads one to learn how to live in a diversified world, more particularly in the contemporary era of fourth phase of globalization.
