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Human rights is not monopoly of sta



Human rights is not monopoly of states: Soli

The Times of India (New Delhi)
September 2, 2000

NEW DELHI: "We, the people, are responsible for maintaining a balance
and for preventing the state from butchering our human rights.
Partnership of the state with the civil society is therefore not an
option, but a necessity," Attorney-General of India Soli Sorabjee said
at a seminar organised by the United Nations Information Centre on
Thursday. Representatives from many NGOs attended the seminar, the theme
of which was "Global solidarity: The way to peace and international
cooperation."

Among those who spoke at the seminar were former ambassador to the USA
Abid Hussain, director general of research and information system for
the non-aligned and other developing countries V R Panchamukhi and
Centre for Women's Studies, Chandigarh, director Pam Rajput.

UNIC director Feodor Starcevic said the seminar was an effort to
replicate the conference that was held in New York in May this year. The
UN General Assembly will be holding the Millennium Assembly in September
this year and that would be followed by the Millennium Summit.

"Protection of human rights is far too important to be a monopoly of the
states? It is a collective endeavour and different sections of the
society have to play different roles," said Sorabjee, amply quoting
judgments, which have upheld fundamental rights of the people. "The
court is being forced to step in to protect the rights of the people ---
ranging from sexual harassment to prevention of pollution, " he added.