Human Rights in Academic Initiative with Special Reference to MU

Dr Gaikhamsin Riamei *

A Brief Profile

The Centre for Human Rights and Duties Education, Manipur University was established in 2007. Since its establishment three Certificate Courses of six-months have been completed and presently the Centre is undergoing the PG Diploma in Human Rights and Duties Education with the strength of forty (40) students. These Courses including the present ones is initiated by the Manipur University as per the Sl No 3 (ii) and (iv) of the XIth Plan Guidelines of University Grants Commission for Human Rights Education.

Human Rights Education and Its Objectives

The need for Human Rights Education has been emphasized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international documents and treaties. Provisions from these instruments state that Human Rights Education consists of efforts to build a universal culture of human rights through the imparting of knowledge and skills and the moulding of attitudes.

Such education should be directed toward: Strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedom; fully developing the human personality and its sense of dignity; promoting understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among all Nations, indigenous peoples and racial, national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups; enabling everyone to participate effectively in a free society; Furthering United Nations activities for maintaining peace.

A growing consensus holds that Human Rights Education can both help to reduce the volume of human rights violations and contribute to building free, just and peaceful societies. Human rights, as inscribed in the Universal Declaration, 1948 forms the 'common language of humanity'.

The objective(s) of the Centre for Human Rights and Duties Education, Manipur University is to make a strenuous academic effort to teach the 'Common language of humanity' to people of Manipur in particular and people everywhere in general under the course(s) of the XIth Plan of University Grants Commission. The Centre strives to make humankind fluent in the vocabulary of human rights, and to enable people of every profession - student and farmer, police officer and soldiers, cabinet minister, teacher to apply that vocabulary and meaning to their daily conduct. Through this education, the Centre may be of help to build a universal culture of human rights to some extent.

Through these course(s), the Centre imparts the said education to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, etc.

Besides the above stated objective(s), the issue of Human Rights has become very important in the present day society of Manipur. The State of Manipur is undergoing in an armed conflict situation since 1980s due to the mushrooming militancy as well as the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.

The citizens of Manipur including women, children and innocent civilians suffered to a great extent resulting in the killing, kidnapping, rape, sexual abuse, molestation, disappearance, torture, custodial violence, pretrial detention, under trials, prisoners, etc by infringement of Article- 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights- 1948, Article- 2 (3) (a) & (b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - 1966, the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and Articles -14-22, 24-30,32, 38, 39, 41, 41 (a), 45 and 47 of the Indian Constitution as a result of the armed conflict situation.

Both the State Security forces and militants are not guided by formal known rules and laws supposedly to be observed while discharging their precious duties. The common men have to pay a heavy price for no fault of them when these two forces come in direct confrontation. Since 1980 till now, there have been number of cases of killing, kidnapping for ransom, forced disappearance, rape, sexual abuse, molestation, etc committed by these forces.

In addition, the people in the hills of Manipur suffered due to violation of various kinds of Human Rights since 1992 as a result of ethnic crisis between the Nagas and Kukis. Many villages were destroyed by burning of houses and killing of many persons including women and children. A large number of displacements also took place among the tribes belonging to both ethnic groups.

Under the circumstances stated above, it is desirable to upgrade for a PG Course (MA in Human Rights) from a Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Human Rights and Duties Education in Manipur University as it is the need of the hour to initiate the course.

Justification

To sensitize the people of Manipur regarding the Human Rights and Duties Education is an immense demand of the present century. The armed groups, both State security forces and non-state armed actors are to be made aware of the different rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India as well as the Human Rights Declarations declared by the United Nations from time to time.

Leaders of various ethnic groups and different voluntary organizations are also to be educated the knowledge and value of Human Rights and Duties Education.

Target Groups

Women leaders, students, teachers, leaders of voluntary organization/NGOs, civil servants, political elites, police, paramilitary forces, army personnel, lawyers, judges, etc .