NHRC clears air on rights of citizens vs criminals, terrorists

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) Several key draft recommendations on the issue of detention emerged out of a two-day international Workshop on 'Detention' organised by the National Human Rights Commission, which concluded here today.

Among the recommendations made at the workshop were stress on distinction between responsibility to ensure the human rights of the citizens and advocacy for rights of criminals and terrorists.

It assumes significance in view of the often repeated accusation by the security establishment that the NHRC supported the terrorists' human rights at the cost of the state itself.

The issue of detention in prison in police custody, preventive detention in juvenile justice homes and mental health care were discussed in four technical sessions of the Workshop.

Several prominent national and international experts, legal luminaries and senior police officers from different parts of the country participated in the Workshop.

Prominent among them included senior advocate of Supreme Court Soli J Sorabjee, Baroness Vivien Stern, Honorary President, Penal Reforms International, UK The Workshop organised to mark the 15th year of NHRC also coincided with the dignity and justice for detainees week from 6th to 12 October, 2008, designated by the Office of the High Commissioner to pay special attention to the conditions of detainees in prisons, police custody and other places.

It also marked the yearlong campaign to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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