Nations must respect U.N. norms: NHRC

By M. S. Prabhakara

DURBAN, SEPT. 5. Speaking on behalf of the National Human Rights Commission of India at the World Conference against Racism today, Dr. Justice K. Ramaswamy, Member of the NHRC, said that it was essential that all member-states of the United Nations, `including India', respect the international human rights regime established under the auspices of the U.N. and observe the discipline of the

treaties to which they are signatories.

Explaining the stand of the NHRC on the issues before the Conference that are ``particularly germane to my country'', Dr. Justice Ramaswamy said that there can be no doubt that Indian history and society had been scarred by discrimination and inequality. He referred to the justiciable constitutional provisions prohibiting all forms of discrimination, ``including notably those forms which are based on race, caste or descent'' and to the programme of affirmative action.

The issue of discrimination based on descent, prohibited in the Constitution, has been the focal point of the mobilisation by the various Dalit organisations who are here seeking the inclusion of caste and untouchability in the WCAR's final declaration. The official Indian position seems to be that even though the Indian Constitution prohibits such discrimination, there has till now been no international agreement on the question and descent-based discrimination has not been part of any international covenant. The leader of the Indian delegation, Mr. Omar Abdullah, categorically rejected such calls in his speech.

Thus, the observation by the NHRC representative, indirectly criticising the official Indian stand: ``The Commission believes deeply in the value of engaging Governments, non-governmental organisations, national institutions and all concerned elements of civil society in the process of fighting discrimination, and urges that the process be conducted at all levels in a spirit that is genuinely interested in the furtherance of human rights and not vitiated by self-righteousness or by political and other extraneous considerations.''

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Section  : International
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