Putting things right

The National Commission for Human Rights is a welcome step. Only the future will tell how effective it is.

One of the many advantages of democratic governments is that they listen to voices from society. Responding to just such a voice, the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Human rights has cleared a bill for tabling before the National Assembly. The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) will have powers to act as a civil court and has been set up in keeping with a 1993 UN General Assembly resolution. As the saying goes, better late than never.

The immediate impetus to set up the body seems to have come from a report by New York-based Human Rights Watch that said 2010 was the worst year for human rights, with the rate of forced disappearances rising and more atrocities against minorities reported than ever before. While a report should not have been necessary to drive the obvious home to the government, it is encouraging that some action has been taken.

The degree to which the body can effectively deal with violations will depend on many factors. The National Human Rights Commission of India has proved effective largely because it has been able to function without intervention and has taken up cases zealously. We hope those making up the body in the country will study its example — and learn from both its failings and its achievements.

But, of course, it would be unrealistic to expect the new commission to perform miracles. The body will need to find its feet; it will also need to tackle issues that relate both to changes in discriminatory laws and the implementation of those that are not properly enforced. This is a gigantic challenge in itself. To succeed, the NCHR needs the support of the government, but no direct intervention in its affairs. The setting up of the body is a welcome step. Only the future will tell how effective it is in curbing the horrible cases of rights abuses we hear about every day.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2011.