'Upholding human rights is the only way to ensure national security'

Mangalore, September 23: One of the most urgent tasks before the human rights community in India is to focus consistently on the root causes of human rights violation both nationally and internationally and its specific political context, according to Nadoja Dr Justice S R Nayak, Chairperson, Karnataka State Human Rights Commission.

Addressing the students as chief guest at the inaugural session of the UGC sponsored national seminar on 'Human Rights –Changing Trends and Challenges in India' organised by St Agnes College, here on Friday, Mr Nayak said that the war on terror is an attack on rights and dignity of the workers, urban and rural poor. “According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, at least 30 million full time workers in the US have been laid off since Reagan”, he said.

He pointed out that in 50 countries there are officially 25 million internally displaced people apart from 15 million refugees.

Mr Nayak also said that there is a need to focus on the fact that the human rights violations on a world scale are due to the unfair terms of international trade and have resulted in destruction of millions of culture, economies and ecology.

“We should counter the argument that human rights must be sacrificed for national security – in fact preservation of human rights standards is the only way to ensure our nation remains secure; human rights violations leads to greater alienation of the victims,” he said.

He also said that fighting against the systematic criminalisation of minorities as a whole; this requires a clear vision on the rights of minorities within a democratic polity.

“Systematic documentation of violation of human rights and specific context in which it occurs; expose the corporate interests that are promoting the war against terror,” he said adding that minorities individually and their organisations are the specific targets of this war against terror.

He said it is essential in the country to ensure the decent and dignified life to all by extending the benefits of socio-economic justice measures, safety and security and to develop a concept of solidarity which is based on a vision of multi-cultural society but distinguish it from State sponsored integration policies which are both patronising and oppressive.

“This could be achieved only by a good governance”, he added.

M Veerappa Moily, Central Minister for Corporate Affairs inaugurated the programme. Dr Shashikala Gurpur, Member, Central Law Commission, India, delivered key note address.

Dr M Prem D'Souza AC, Principal, St Agnes College (Autonomous) presided over the programme.