National Human Rights Commission's 32-Year Journey: Focus on Prison Reforms and Global Cooperation
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of External Affairs
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is celebrating its 32nd Foundation Day, marking its journey since 1993. Over the last 32 years, the NHRC has resolved over 23 lakh cases, including nearly 3,000 suo motu cases, and recommended over ₹263 crore in monetary relief to victims of human rights violations. The Commission has issued 31 advisories on diverse issues, including the rights of informal workers, mental health, and Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
The anniversary celebration is followed by a national conference on the ‘Human Rights of Prison Inmates,’ reflecting the NHRC’s focus on prison reforms. The Commission is also actively advancing South-South cooperation by running ITEC capacity building programs to strengthen other National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the Global South.
The NHRC’s dual focus on internal prison reforms (addressing issues like self-harm among inmates) and external capacity-building initiatives underscores India’s commitment to advancing a rights-based governance model both domestically and as a foreign policy tool for the Global South.
What is Suo Motu Cognizance? → Suo motu cognizance refers to the action taken by a judicial or quasi-judicial body, like the NHRC, on its own motion, without any formal complaint being filed by a party. It is a critical power that allows the NHRC to register cases based on media reports or other information to address grave human rights violations promptly, ensuring justice for victims even when they cannot file a complaint themselves.
What is the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme? → The ITEC Programme, established by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in 1964, is the flagship capacity-building platform of the Government of India. As a bilateral assistance initiative based on the philosophy of South-South Cooperation, ITEC provides fully-funded training opportunities in diverse fields—from IT and finance to law and sustainable development—to working professionals and officials from over 160 developing countries. Its primary aim is to share India’s development experience and technical expertise, fostering mutual capacity building and strengthening global diplomatic and economic ties.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: Following the conference on prison inmates, what specific budgetary allocations will the Ministry of Home Affairs dedicate to implementing NHRC’s suicide prevention and welfare advisories?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2178799