IT News
Imphal, Aug 31:
A two-day National Human Rights sponsored training programme concluded yesterday at Manipur University, Canchipur. The event featured a series of technical sessions delivered by prominent experts on various aspects of human rights.
On the second day, five distinguished resource persons addressed critical human rights issues. The first session was led by Keisam Pradipkumar Singh, Chairperson of the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights. His presentation, titled “Issues and Challenges of Child Rights in Manipur,” highlighted significant concerns such as child trafficking, child labour, and the use of child soldiers, which undermine the fundamental rights of children.
The second session was conducted by Sobita Mangsatabam, Secretary of the Women and Development Association (WAD), who discussed “Gender Justice and the Role of NGOs.” Sobita reviewed key international human rights documents, including the 1979 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the 1985 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. She detailed her NGO’s intervention in gender violence cases in Manipur and presented data on gender violence compiled from local newspapers between 2014 and 2023. Sobita also criticized the persistence of traditional practices favoring male preference, which continue to exacerbate gender violence.
Meihoubam Rakesh, Director of the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) Manipur, led the third session on “Constitutional Safeguards on Arrest and Detention.” Rakesh elaborated on key constitutional provisions, including Articles 20, 21, and 22, which are essential for safeguarding rights during arrest and detention. He also discussed notable case laws, such as the D.K. Basu case, to illustrate the legal framework governing these issues.
The Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission joined the programme online, providing insights into the constitutional ideals and visions of the framers of India’s Constitution. He stressed the significance of constitutional and statutory commissions in addressing human rights violations and expressed a desire to participate in future events organized by the Centre for Human Rights and Duties Education and the Department of Law at Manipur University.
The final technical session featured Rinku Khumukcham, Editor of The Imphal Times, who addressed “The Role of Media in Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.” Rinku Khumukcham voiced concerns about the challenges faced by the press in Manipur, including intimidation, and advocated for increased discussion on the role of media in safeguarding human rights within academic forums.
The first day of the programme included contributions from Justice Kh. Nobin, Director of the Manipur Judicial Academy; Prof. R.C. Borpatra Gohain, Former Advocate General of Assam; Dr. N. Pramod, Associate Professor at D.M. University; and Dr. Y. Premenanda, Head of the Department of Law at MU.
