Workshops on Rights and Responsibilities of Human Rights Defenders
- HRI , PRAHAR , MHRO -

Imphal 16 April 2010

Joint Press Release

Imphal 16 April 2010
By Human Rights Initiative (HRI) – Manipur, PRAHAR - Assam and
Meghalaya Human Rights Organisation (MHRO) –Meghalaya

NORTH EAST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DESK

A North East Desk for Human Rights Defenders was proposed in two workshops on Rights and Responsibilities of Human Rights Defenders (HRD) which were organized in Imphal on 5th, 6th and 7th April 2010, and in Guwahati on 9th and 10th April. This NE Human Rights Defenders Desk will respond and act for the safety concern of rights defenders in the North Eastern region. The desk will be linked to the India Desk after completion of its formation.

The HRD workshops were organized by People's Watch – Tamil Nadu, Human Rights Initiative (HRI) – Manipur, PRAHAR – Assam and Meghalaya Human Rights Organization –Meghalaya. The project was supported by the Royal Netherlands Embassy and carried out in collaboration with Action Aid India, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, NAWO, MARG and Ekta Parishad. The workshops were conducted as a follow up of the commitment made at the Bangalore Human Rights Defenders Training of Trainers on 22nd, 23rd and 24th February 2010.

The first workshop was conducted at Youth Hostel, Khuman Lampak, Imphal. Forty-two participants from various parts of Manipur and Nagaland including nineteen women HRDs took part. They were from a wide variety of Human Rights Defenders drawn from Meira Paibis/Women Organisations, Civil Society Bodies, Student Activists, Local Clubs, NGOs, Joint Action Committees (of extrajudicial executions) Youth wing of left political group and individuals.  The participants from Meetei-Pangal (muslim), Rongmei Women Group based in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, other Nagas and Meeteis aged from eighteen years to seventy years absorbed fully in the sessions. It was a matter of hope and unity to have those HRDs from other indigenous peoples (other than Meetei) and a sincere gratitude is extended to them for being an important part of the program despite some reality challenges of physical and sentimental dynamics among us.

The resource persons at the Manipur workshop were Dr. RK Ranjan, Dr. Laifungbam Devabarta, RS Rajendra and Lc. Jinine Meetei.

The training program at Guwahati was attended by 54 participants from the states, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Meghalaya. The resource persons included Dr Noni Gopal Mahanta, Associate Professor, Political science & co-ordinator Peace and conflict studies, Guwahati University, Dr Romesh Borpatragohain, Associate Professor, Law, Guwahati University, Dr Subhram Rajkhowa, Associate Professor, Law, Guwahati University and Dr Parthajyothi Das, Environmentalist.

Topics discussed at the programs were United Nations, its Covenants and Declarations, Indigenous Rights, functioning of the Human Rights Institutions, Conflict, Environment, and understanding the role of Human Rights Defenders.

The workshops accomplished the objectives of a human rights defender in his/her area of operation and for formation of a strong network of human rights defenders who are well versed in knowledge of the general situation of Human Rights Defenders in the region, well versed in provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and well versed in the major developments of understanding of the mandate by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, UN and human rights mechanisms, etc.

Signed
Lc. Jinine Meetei
HRI

Irene Hujon
MHRO

Dipmoni Gayan
PRAHAR