Question

What is the significance of human rights? How are human rights being ensured for Indians?

Answer 1

The importance of human rights can be enumerated as follows-

• Human rights emerged from the concept of natural rights. It includes important rights such as the right to life, food, clothing, shelter, education, and health.
• Thus, human rights are those rights that are essential for a life of dignity and fulfilment as human beings.
• In response to the barbarous acts against humanity in World War II the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights under the guidance of Eleanor Roosevelt on 10th December 1948 in Paris.

The steps taken by India to incorporate human rights are:

• In the Indian constitution, most of the human rights have been incorporated as fundamental rights.
• It is the duty of the government to ensure that these rights are available to all and provide remedies in case of their violation.
• Under the Human Rights Protection Act 1993, the National Human Rights Commission and the State Human Rights Commissions were established.
• It is the duty of these commissions to investigate cases related to the violation of human rights.