Dimapur, August 30 (MExN): A consultative meet cum seminar on ‘People’s Commission on Shrinking Democratic Space (PCSDS)’ for Nagaland State was conducted in collaboration with Peace Channel and North East Institute of Social Science and Research at NEISSR Conference Hall, Dimapur on August 28.
The meet was organized with the objective to respond and advocate on fundamental rights issues and other rights, including harassment and criminalization of all Human Rights Defenders (HRDs).
Resource person Bondita Acharya, an HRD from Assam, stated that human rights defenders are “individuals, groups and associations, committed to defend and uphold all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
She highlighted the scenario of human rights violation in India postulating that “we need to raise our voices against arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, prisoner rights, militarization, social and structural discrimination, employment and livelihood issues, forced evictions and displacements and no access to basic necessities for dignified human life, ecology, environment, people’s rights over land and natural resources, discrimination, rights of indigenous peoples.”
Acharya also elucidated that human rights agencies have failed to protect our rights and so human rights defenders should come forward to fight for our rights which have been compromised by the stakeholders starting from whistleblowers to law makers, who have failed to protect and promote fundamental freedoms of peoples and individuals, including principles of democracy and secularism. Later, the resource person briefed about the Commission, its objectives, structure, process and encouraged the participants to be part of PCSDS to protect human rights defenders and advocate human rights. She also added that PCSDS does not accept any grants from any agencies and for any information regarding the PCSDS visit www.pcsds.in
T. Limanochet Jamir, Assistant Professor, Kohima Law College and a member of National Working Committee of PCSDS exhorted that we don’t have to be in a position of power to bring change but sheer will-power and determination. He also referred the life of Jesus Christ as a Human Rights defender.
P Leonard Aier, Principal, City Law College making the concluding remarked that the state is the biggest violators of human rights who are supposed to safeguard the rights of the citizens. He elucidated that the state regulates law at the same time misuse the law. He further highlighted how human rights have evolved with the charter Act, Magna Carta. Lamenting on the lack of dialogue, he concluded by leaving the participants to ponder on whether we are using the democratic space to defend our rights. 120 participants from different organization and institution participated in the programme.
