Human Rights Day, observed annually on 10th December since 1950, commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. As a global charter for dignity, equality and freedom, the UDHR continues to guide efforts worldwide to uphold and protect human rights.

Echoing these universal ideals, the Constitution of India and the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, reflect the same ethos that led to the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India on 12th October 1993. The Commission considers Human Rights Day an opportunity for all stakeholders to renew their resolve to respect, promote and protect human rights of every individual.

Various stakeholders from governments, civil society, academia, human rights defenders, diplomats, UN officials, domain experts are to join NHRC this year's Human Rights Day function being organised at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 10th December 2025. The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu will grace the occasion as Chief Guest in the presence of NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian; Members of the Commission and other dignitaries.

To mark this day, aligning with the theme chosen by UN for this year's Human Rights Day, ‘Everyday Essentials', NHRC, India is also organising a National Conference on ‘Ensuring Everyday Essentials: Public Services and Dignity for All' at the same venue. The keynote address for this conference will be delivered by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. The theme strongly resonates with India's developmental journey, underscoring that human rights are not abstract aspirations. They are the everyday essentials that determine one's quality of life through essential services such as healthcare, education, housing, justice, financial inclusion and social protection.

The Commission believes that responsive governance and efficient public services are essential to ensure uniform access to basic amenities and fulfill the constitutional promise of justice, liberty, equality and dignity for everyone.

In recent years, the country has made remarkable progress in expanding access to basic amenities through initiatives such as PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra, Ayushman Bharat, National Education Policy, Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana, Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme and others. However, these welfare policies need to be continuously supplemented with reinforced efforts to ensure that there are no gaps in access, awareness and accountability.

The two sessions of the Conference- ‘Basic Amenities to all: A Human Rights Approach’ and ‘Ensuring Public Services and Dignity For All’ aim to discuss these aspects. Eminent domain experts, Secretaries to the Government of India and other senior officials are expected to speak and deliberate on these initiatives in these two sessions.

The NHRC, India right since its inception, has remained steadfast in its endeavour to protect and promote all categories of human rights encompassing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It has made significant contribution to embedding a human rights-centred approach in government policies and programmes, while raising awareness among public authorities and civil society through diverse initiatives.

The Commission’s proactive interventions through investigations, open hearings, camp sittings, suo motu cognizance, recommendations for relief and policy advisories reflect its commitment to justice and accountability. It has registered more than 23.8 lakh complaints of human rights violations including cases of suo motu cognizance and recommended Rs 264 crore as relief to the victims of human rights violations since inception.

The NHRC, India’s impact extends beyond redressal to systemic reform, which is evident in its reviews of laws and policies, thematic advisories and research-driven initiatives on issues ranging from child rights and mental health to environmental protection and labour welfare. Through its core group meetings, consultations and open house discussions, national conferences and such collaborative programmes, the NHRC fosters dialogue between government bodies, national commissions, state human rights commissions, experts, human rights defenders and civil society to strengthen human rights governance.

The Commission also invests in capacity building by sensitising civil servants, police personnel and students through training programmes, workshops, moot courts and internships, nurturing a culture of human rights awareness across institutions. Further, through its ITEC-supported capacity-building programmes, the Commission imparts specialised training to senior functionaries of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from the Global South, reinforcing India’s leadership in promoting human rights cooperation and knowledge exchange globally. So far, the NHRC, India has organised four capacity building programmes including two during the last one year with the participation of 78 senior functionaries of the NHRIs of 23 countries across Africa, East Asia, Central Asia, South America and the Pacific.

Expanding its outreach through digital innovation, the Commission has operationalised the HRC Net Portal, which connects with state authorities and enables individuals to file complaints and track their status in real time. The portal is integrated with over five lakh Common Service Centres and the National Government Services Portal, making human rights protection more accessible and transparent.

On the Human Rights Day, the Commission will also release various human rights publication to disseminate its outreach activities.

The events will be streamed live through NIC Webcast at: https://webcast.gov.in/nhrc and YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpEIhaD5mmM from 10.00 am.

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NSK

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