People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) organized a convention of Human Rights Defenders in Paradkar Smriti Bhawan, Maidagin, Varanasi, in March 2011. In the program, many human rights defenders like Buddhi Narayan Toppo, a tribal young human rights defender from Sonebhadra, Govidsharan from Allahabad, Mangal Singh from Mahoba, Parvez from Kaushambi, Sanjay Singh from Jalaun, all victimised for their activities, were present at the meeting and submitted their testimonies before Mr Anil Parashar, joint registrar and focal point-Human Rights defenders of NHRC, Mr Chitaranjan Singh, National Secretary of Peoples Union for Civil Liberty and the people gathered in the hall.
On that occasion, PVCHR released a report on human rights defenders facing threats from Uttar Pradesh.
Dr Lenin, a renowned human rights defender, demanded to declare 9 December (the Declaration on human rights defenders was adopted by United Nations on 9 December 1998) as human rights defenders day. Lenin said, “NHRC, India took first intervention and now the world is celebrating International Human Rights Defenders Day. Tomorrow three champions are going to receive the Nobel peace prize. We need to work harder for pluralistic democracy and the world without war, fascism and sectarian thinking.”
Apart from facing many challenges, threats, and false implication PVCHR team never gave up intervention and standing with the survivors of human rights violations of the marginalized communities in particular and others in general.
PVCHR is observing the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the theme of Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All. We believe Human security based on inclusiveness and justice is one of the main factors for the foundation of sustainable peace based on resilience and humane relationship.
On this occasion, we demand the following:
1. Fair and speedy investigation trial.
2. Victims, witnesses and human rights defender protection.
3. Police, administrative and prison reform in the context of the spirit of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
4. The establishment of the South Asia Human Rights Mechanism.
The Declaration and WHO’s Constitution assert that health is a fundamental human right for all people. Therefore we are requesting the Government for strong and mandatory FOPL with a warning label. It is an inalienable right that every child should able to know what is in the food they consume. A label with clearly defined limits that alert children and parents to the dangers of FOPL should be a priority.