Positive efforts should be made to protect people’s rights
Ramesh Sarraf Dhamora
We celebrate Human Rights Day on December 10th. This day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This declaration is the backbone of the human rights framework of our societies, where each of us has the right to live and thrive in peace and security without discrimination. In 1950, the United Nations decided to celebrate World Human Rights Day every year on December 10th. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted 75 years ago, is a milestone that reflects humanity’s aspirations for prosperity, dignity, and peaceful coexistence. Today, this declaration is a fundamental part of the United Nations. December 10, 2025, marks the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the world’s most important global commitments. The theme for Human Rights Day in 2025 emphasizes our everyday necessities, three simple truths: Human rights are positive, human rights are essential, and human rights are attainable.
Human rights are the fundamental rights that every person on this earth possesses. Human rights are fundamental rights and freedoms. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and much more. Everyone is entitled to these rights without discrimination. India’s freedom movement has been a great source of inspiration for human rights. Some rights are inherent to a person from birth. These rights are not affected by a person’s age, ethnic origin, place of residence, language, or religion.
Due to the country’s vast size and diversity, its status as a sovereign, secular, democratic republic, and its history as a former colonial nation, the human rights situation in India has become somewhat complex. The Constitution of India grants fundamental rights, including freedom of religion. The constitutional provisions also guarantee freedom of speech, separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary, and freedom of movement within and outside the country. In the Indian context, it is somewhat difficult to understand whether the human rights designated for individuals are truly meaningful.
In India, the Human Rights Act came into effect on September 28, 1993. On October 12, 1993, the government constituted the National Human Rights Commission. The Commission’s mandate includes civil and political rights, as well as economic, social, and cultural rights. These include issues such as child labor, health, food, child marriage, women’s rights, deaths in custody and encounters, and the rights of minorities and Scheduled Castes and Tribes. This has been recognized globally, and therefore, when human values are disregarded, action is taken. This is also enshrined in our Constitution. Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 39, 43, and 45 of the Constitution ensure the protection of human rights in the country.
The term “human rights” is very broad. This is because every individual’s interests are linked to human rights. In today’s world, no one wants to grant people their true rights. Politicians talk loudly about human rights, but when it comes to granting those rights, they back down. Politicians know that if people receive their rights, their political power will diminish. Our country’s Constitution grants many rights to its citizens, but these are not implemented effectively. The laws created to protect human rights remain confined to paper.
History is witness to the fact that India has never tried to subjugate others based on culture, religion, or other factors. India is a country whose very foundation is based on the concept of human rights. The people of India respect human rights and are committed to protecting them. India continues to support human rights globally. Human Rights Day was founded on the understanding and empathy for the suffering of people scarred by the horrors of the World Wars. Human rights are the rights to life, liberty, equality, and dignity for every human being. The Indian Constitution not only guarantees these rights but also ensures that those who violate them are punished by the courts.
This day plays a crucial role in stopping the atrocities and oppression against humanity worldwide and giving new impetus to the struggle against them. Granting equal rights to every individual is a vital component of democracy. This is why most governments today are striving to uphold this right. Human rights guarantee our existence and the ability to live with dignity in the world. They are essential for our physical and spiritual security and continuous progress. Under this framework, several strong laws have been enacted, including the right to food, the right to education, the right to protection from exploitation, the right to migration, and laws against child abuse, harassment, violence against women, inequality, and religious violence. This is why every democratic country is seen strongly advocating for human rights.
Every human being born into this world is born with certain rights. Some rights are given to us by our family, some by society, some by our country, and some by the world. But even today, there are many people in the world who are either unaware of their rights or whose rights are being violated. These rights are being trampled upon in the name of caste, religion, gender discrimination, or racial discrimination. In every segment of society, in every city, and in every corner of the world, the denial of equal rights continues unabated for one reason or another. History bears witness that the violation of rights has been a major cause behind the greatest revolutions in the world. Humans have always had to fight long battles for their rights. People in many parts of the world have made countless sacrifices in their fight for their rights, and even today, many people are fighting for their rights.
Laws have been made to protect human rights, and efforts are being made to implement and enforce them. But they have remained merely paper documents. If humanity itself is not aware of the violations of human rights in society, then what is their purpose? If we look closely, we will find that many human rights are being violated by humans themselves. There is no need for a special day for humans to recognize and feel each other’s pain. If we lack humanity in our hearts, then it doesn’t matter if we carry the flag of human rights for fifty days a year; nothing can be done.
The government is also not entirely successful in preventing human rights violations. Incidents of human rights violations occur frequently in the country. However, strict action is not taken at the government level to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future. It is unfortunate that despite numerous government and non-governmental human rights organizations active at the regional, national, and international levels, human rights violations continue unabated.
(The author is an independent journalist recognized by the Government of Rajasthan.)
