its obligations under international law and treaties.
One such
BARAK HUMAN
RIGHTS PROTEC-
TION COMMITEE:
AN OVERVIEW
Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), a Human
Rights Organisation of the nature as is envisaged under section
12 (i) of the protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and
registered under the Societies registration Act, 1860 vide No.
RS/CA/243/B/61 of 2002-03 dated 1st October 2002 based at
Silchar, Assam.
BARAK HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION COMMITTEE
“It is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have
recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny
and oppression, that human rights should be pro-
tected by the rule of law.”
Preamble to the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Background:
BHRPC believes that every human being has certain inherent rights
due only to the fact that s/he is a human being. These rights are
called human rights. In 1948 United Nations’ General Assembly
proclaimed the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
(UDHR) as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and
all nations. Most of the rights enshrined in UDHR have also been
embodied and elaborated in a number of other binding international
and regional treaties and instruments. The United Nations adopted
the DECLARATION ON THE RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY OF
INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND ORGANS OF SOCIETY TO PROMOTE
AND PROTECT UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS AND
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS (UN Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders) by its General Assembly resolution 53/144 of 9
December 1998 recognising and encouraging the efforts of Non-
Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in promoting and protecting
human rights.
Fundamental human rights are also guaranteed in the Constitution
of India and the Supreme Court and High Courts are made the
custodians of these rights. There are other laws and mechanisms
in India guaranteeing human rights enacted and constituted to fulfil
legislation is the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, (the Act)
which encourages explicitly under section 12 (i) the efforts of NGOs
in the field of human rights. Barak Human Rights Protection
Committee is such a non-profit organization as is envisaged under
the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and contemplated
in the Act.
BHRPC is named after the river BARAK as it is based in its valley. In
Article 3 of the constitution of BHRPC the area of operation is defined
as “basically entire Barak Valley and if necessary beyond this area”.
Objectives:
The main objectives of BHRPC are (i) to promote and protect human
rights and prevent their violations, (ii) to improve socio-economic
situation for full realization of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights
for all and (iii) to work for promotion and establishment of
democracy, secularism and world peace as these are sine qua non
for full realization of all human rights.
Modus Operandi:
As BHRPC believes in Democracy, Rule of Law, Peace and Non-
Violence all its activities are within the Indian and International legal
frame work. Main activities include (i) research and studies, (ii)
awareness generation campaign, (iii) monitoring and
documentation of human rights violations, (iv) legal intervention
and (v) emergency response and urgent appeals.
Programmes:
BHRPC works through some specialised Programmes. These are (i)
Right to Justice Programme, (ii) Right to Information Programme,
(iii) Gender Justice and Child Rights Programme, (iv) Right to
Livelihood Programme, (v) Disaster Risk Management Programme,
(vi) Health Rights Programme and (vii) Environmental Awareness
and Protection Programme.
Divisions:
All functions are done by 7 divisions of the organisation. These are
(i) Organisation and Administration Division, (ii) Education and
Training Division, (iii) Monitoring and Documentation Division, (iv)
Law and Legal Affairs Division, (v) Research and Study Division, (vi)
Projects and Programmes Division and (vii) Information and P-
ublication Division
The organisation of BHRPC consists of (i) Auxiliary Body, (ii)
Associates Body, (III) Advisory Body, (iv) Board of Patron, (v) General
Body and (vi) Executive Body.
Achievements:
Past achievements of the organization include:
1. The term ‘human rights’ and its significance became more familiar
to the people of the valley following many seminars, symposiums,
public meetings, workshops, debates, interactive sessions,
demonstrations, publications etc. conducted by the organization
since its establishment. A drastic increase in recent days can be seen
in the numbers of complaints regarding cases of violations filed by
the victims and others with the organization, Assam Human Rights
Commission and National Human Rights Commission which is
indicative of greater awareness of the people. BHRPC received
more than 150 complaints in the last year.
2. The organization has published folders and booklets containing
Bengali translation (the local language) of (i) Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, (ii) Provisions of the Legal Services Authority In the Days to Come:
Act, 1988, (iii) Requirements of Arrest under D K Basu Case,
(iv) NHRC Guidelines Regarding Arrest, (v) Dos and Don’ts BHRPC will expand its activities and networking both horizontally
regarding Solid Waste Management and (vi) The Supreme and vertically by continuing formation of Auxiliary Groups and
Court Judgment on Employment of Teachers on non-teaching nomination of Local Monitors of Human Rights in or out of Barak
duties and continues to distribute them free of cost among the Valley and entering into networking and partnership with other
public. similar minded organisations and institutions in points of mutual
agreement and interests in and out of the valley.
3. The organization maintains a 24 hours mobile helpline for
the victims. A victim or anyone on his behalf can call at anytime The organization has undertaken a project of translation (in
on +919435989997 or +919401134314 or can e-mai l to Bengali) and publication of the International Bill of Human Rights
bhrpc.net@gmail.com or bhrpcsilchar@yahoo.co.in . and the organization is going to launch its own website. Besides,
the organization is contemplating to start some other important
4. The organization has got the status of district nodal NGO in programmes for working more conveniently in the area of i) Labour
Disaster Risk Management Programme from the district Rights, ii) Agricultural Awareness, iii) Right to Education, iv) Health
administration in 2007. Rights and v) Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
5. The Assam State Legal Services Authority has accorded Barak Human Rights Protection Committee will continue to fight
approval to “Workshop cum Counselling and Conciliation for rights, justice, peace and truth with resilience and dynamism.
Centre” run by the organisation in 2007.
Contact:
6. The organisation runs its WebPages at the URL: Manindra Shankar Gupta Neharul Ahmed Mazumder
http://bhrpc.net.googlepages.com and its discussion group at Chairperson Secretary General
+919401373964 (m), +919435989997
the URL: http://groups.google.com/group/bhrpc .
+913842260482 (r)
7. The organization has undertaken a research project titled
Waliullah Ahmed Laskar, Liaison Officer, +919401134314
“Freedom from Torture and Violence: Compatibility of Indian
Law and Practice with International Human Rights Standards Office: Barak Human Rights Protection Committee
(Focusing on The North East)”. Rongpur, Silchar-9, Cachar, Assam, India
Email: bhrpc.net@gmail.com, bhrpcsilchar@yahoo.co.in
8. The organization publishes a yearly journal on human rights
named ‘The Human Voice’ and a monthly e-news letter named Published by Bijaya Kar Shome, Director, Information and
‘RightsNews’. Publication Division from Rongpur, Silchar-9, Cachar, Assam.