The Punjab State Human Rights Commission will be organizing a function in its office at Chandigarh...

Spokesman News Service: Chandigarh: 7th Dec'18: The Punjab State Human Rights Commission will be organizing a function in its office at Chandigarh to mark Human Rights Day on December 10, 2018. On the occasion Chairperson, PSHRC and former Chief Justice of Patna High Court , Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari, will also address the gathering of its officers and  staff. 

Human Rights Day is celebrated on the 10th December every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948 as the shared standard yardstick to protect human rights across the globe. 

During the last 21 years, since its inception on the 16th July, 1997, the Commission has endeavored to promote a culture of human rights. The PSHRC, like most of the human rights institutions in the world, is a recommendatory body as per the Protection of Human Rights Act passed by Parliament. 

Punjab State Human Rights Commission

The Commission's functions also include inquire suo motu or on a petition presented to it by a victim or any person on his/her behalf into complain of human rights. This year PSHRC has taken  46 suo motu cases based on new item published in various newspapers and electronic media The Commission also undertake research and organise seminars and discussion programmes on human rights issues, spread awareness about human rights and encourage efforts of non-governmental organisations towards promotion of human rights. 

PSHRC has been holding an Internship Programme in its office since the year 2007, in order to spread awareness of human rights issues among University students. This programme is open to students pursuing graduate, post-graduate studies in Law, and Human Rights etc.

Punjab State Human Rights Commission has also been visiting different districts to make an assessment of enforcement of various measures related to human rights and implementation of welfare schemes so as to come out with recommendations for the Government. In last 21 years, PSHRC has received more than 267000 cases of human rights violation.  A brief breakup of important 5 types of cases instituted by PSHRC has been as per table below:-

Apart from the State Government, several organisations, NGOs of Human Rights Defenders and media have actively supported and supplemented the work of the PSHRC towards promotion and protection of human rights.