The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the Human Rights Day celebration, organised by the National Human Rights Commission, in New Delhi today (December 10, 2024).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India, with its civilisational heritage spanning over 5,000 years, has long upheld values of empathy, compassion, and the inter-connectedness of individuals within a harmonious community.
Based on these values, institutions such as the NHRC and SHRCs along with civil society, human rights defenders, special rapporteurs and special monitors, have been working to ensure the protection of human rights for all.
She appreciated the proactive role played by the NHRC in addressing violations, raising awareness and recommending policy changes to uphold the rights of the marginalised. The President said that India is steadfast in its commitment to guaranteeing to all the citizens, the civic and political rights.
The Government also guarantees a number of socio-economic and cultural rights, spanning from providing housing, clean drinking water, improved sanitation, electricity, cooking gas and financial services to healthcare and education for all.
The provision of basic necessities is seen as a matter of rights. The President said that as we progress into the future, we are confronted with emerging challenges. Cybercrimes and climate change are new threats to human rights.
The digital era, while transformative, has brought with it complex issues such as cyberbullying, deepfake, privacy concerns, and the spread of misinformation. These challenges underscore the importance of fostering a safe, secure, and equitable digital environment that protects the rights and dignity of every individual.
The President said that Artificial Intelligence has now entered our day-to-day life, solving many problems and creating several new ones too. The human rights discourse so far has been centred on the human agency, that is, the violator is assumed to be a human being, who would have a range of human emotions such as compassion and guilt.
With AI, however, the culprit could be a non-human but intelligent agent. The President said that climate change forces us to review the human rights thinking at the global level. Polluters of a different place and a different era are affecting the lives of people in another place and another period.
India, as the voice of Global South, has rightly taken up the leadership in climate action. The government’s initiatives, such as the 2022 Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, the Green Credit Initiative, and the Lifestyle for Environment, or LiFE, Movement, are clear demonstrations of India’s commitment to building a clean and green planet for future generations.
The President said that in recent years, mental health has become an increasingly important issue, especially for our children and youth. She appealed to all stakeholders to initiate adequate measures to alleviate the stress that affect our children and young people.
She urged business leaders to ensure that the growing ‘gig economy’ does not adversely affect the mental health of gig workers. As we embrace new economic models, we must ensure that the well-being of all individuals, especially those in vulnerable sectors, remains a priority.
We all must work towards removing any stigma associated with mental illness, creating awareness and providing help to those in need of it. The President said that on the Human Rights Day, we should renew our collective commitment to the values of justice, equality, and dignity that define our nation.
As we continue to confront the challenges of our time, we must uphold the fundamental rights of every individual and ensure that no one is left behind. She said that together, through sustained effort and solidarity, we can build a future in which every person, regardless of age, background, or circumstance, is empowered to lead a life of dignity, opportunity, and fulfilment.