My Religion is Human and My Politics is Humanity
ABOUT GURKANI FOUNDATION HUMAN RIGHT FORUM
The Gurkani Foundation Human Rights Forum is a non-profit organization that promotes and protects human rights in India. GFHRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy. To empower the disempowered groups of Dalit, tribal people, women, children and other minorities to protect their individual and collective rights for a dignified life through, education, monitoring, and mobilizing civil society for concerted action. GFHRF is registered Under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. Jurisdiction of Human Rights and Social Welfare Forum is whole of India. National Committee shall have power to supervise and regulate the activities of all States / Union Territories, Districts, Taluks, Committees and other Committees/Cells. It shall also facilitate the constitution and development of the down line committees to achieve its objectives. The National Registered Office is in Rampur district in UP.
Continuing the fight for equality
About Humen Rights
ON December 10, 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – and since then the day has been marked as #HumanRightsDay. The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims “the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.
Many of us are still unaware of our basic rights as human beings. Read on to know more about why these rights are intrinsic to us and the organisations that are working to defend them.
Fundamental to being human
Human rights are essential rights and freedoms of each and every person in the world, based on shared values such as respect, dignity, equality, and independence. These values are defined and protected by international law.
The right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education are among the most basic to human life. Each one of us is inherently entitled to these rights, without discrimination, simply because we are human beings. These fundamental rights are universal and the same for everyone.
Rights Eroded by Pandemic
The emphasis on upholding and exercising our fundamental rights is much greater now than it has ever been. The present Covid-19 crisis has led to increased poverty, greater inequalities and discrimination the world over. Collective efforts and measures to close these gaps by defending the rights are crucial to create a just and resilient world post Covid.
Recovery from this crisis is only possible by protecting and promoting social, economic and cultural rights, following the guiding principles of empathy, equality and non-discrimination. By encouraging participation and solidarity from individuals, governments, corporations, civil society and grassroots communities, we can build a better world. The priority is to ensure the voices of the most marginalised and vulnerable people so that no one is left behind.
What We Do
Investigate
Our researchers work in the field in 100 some countries, uncovering facts that create an undeniable record of human rights abuses.
Expose
We tell the stories of what we found, sharing them with millions of social media and online followers each day. News media often report on our investigations, furthering our reach.
ACT & RULES
The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
Long Title : An Act to provide for the constitution of a National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights Commissions in States and Human Rights Courts for better protection of human rights and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- (1) Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
- (A)It extends to the whole of India:
- (B)It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 28th day of September, 1993.
- (2) Definitions.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
- (A) “armed forces” means the naval, military and air forces and includes any other armed forces of the Union;
- (B) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Commission or of the State Commission, as the Case may be; 2[(ba) “Chief Commissioner” means the Chief Com missioner for Persons with Disabilities Referred to in sub-section (1) of section 74 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016);
- (C) “Commission” means the National Human Rights Commission constituted under section 3;
- (D) “Human Rights” means the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the Individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and Enforceable by courts in India;
- (E) “Human Rights Court” means the Human Rights Court specified under section 30;
- (F) “International Covenants” means the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights And the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 16th December, 1966 and such other Covenant or Convention Adopted by the General As sembly of the United Nations as the Central Government may, by Notification, specify
- (G) “Member” means a Member of the Commission or of the State Commission, as the case may be;]
- (Ga) “National Commission for Backward Classes” means the National Commission for Backward Classes constituted under section 3 of the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 (27 of 1993);
- (H) “National Commission for Minorities” means the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 (19 of 1992);
- (Ha) “National Commission for Protection of Child Rights” means the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights constituted under section 3 of the Commis sions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 (4 of 2006);
- (I) “National Commission for the Scheduled Castes” means the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes referred to in article 338 of the Constitution;
- (Ia) “National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes” means the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes referred to in article 338A of the Constitution;
- (J) “National Commission for Women” means the National Commission for Women constituted Under section 3 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 (20 of 1990);
- (K) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
- (L) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
- (M) “public servant” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);
- (N) “State Commission” means a State Human Rights Commission constituted under section 21.
- (3) Any reference in this Act to a law, which is not in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Shall, in relation to that State, be construed as a reference to a corresponding law, if any, in force in that State.
Articles
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Everyone has the right to a nationality.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.