Introduction

“Occasionally, standing for Human Rights and Justice

is more important than Maintaining Peace.”

Nature / Feature / Characteristics of Human Rights

¤ Internationally guaranteed

¤ Legally protected

¤ Focus on the dignity of the human being

¤ Protect individuals and groups

¤ Oblige states and state actors

¤ Cannot be waived or taken away

¤ Equal and interdependent

¤ Universal

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Human Rights the AICUF Way

AICUF has a long tradition of protest against Human Rights violations.The student leaders have always taken a stand to be with the marginalised and oppressed to protect their Human Rights.AICUF has always given a platform to student community in their struggle. Since in AICUF we have four defined thrust areas we are able to voice out the Human Rights violations of these groups. Visualizing that in the future there would be unprecedented increase in the Human Rights violation, AICUF may need a separate forum.

The constitution of AICUF provides the establishment of the Human Rights Cell. In the context of the Human Rights violations, AICUF needs to develop a Human Rights Cell at the National Level and State Levels. (Annexure 1135). Given the threatening scenario of world, particularly of India, a few years ago the AICUF leaders thought to have a Human Rights Cell. The main aim was to include all other marginalised, exploited, oppressed groups other than the four thrust areas. All AICUFers agreed upon the need of the Human Rights Cell in AICUF. In order to explore the possibilities of starting such a cell the 17th

National Council entrusted the responsibility to Fr. Erwin, SJ the State Adviser of Gujarat and Mr. Mehul, the former NT and the Gujarat State Full-timer to find out the possibilities and to recommend some sort of mechanism towards it.

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 The Committee on Human Rights Cell in AICUF

Structure of the Human Right Cell - Our Proposal

After a deep study of other commissions and their

structure and interaction with the National Adviser we

propose the council the given below structure.

AICUF National Human Rights Cell

AICUF National Human Rights Cell - Convener(s)

National Human Rights Cell - Co-ordinator

AICUF National Human Rights Cell - Rapporteur(s)

State Human Rights Cell - Convener

State Human Rights Cell - Rapporteur (NC Member)

To elaborate

• There would be two student representatives from each state, National Council member will be the state Ex-officio Rapporteur.

• Each state will have to appoint one person as the State Human Rights Cell Convener.

• All the state level HRCC would form the HRC team at the national level and they would select/elect one from them as the national HRC Convener.

• The National HRC Convener will represent the cell to the National Team.

• The state level Rapporteur would make a HRC Rapporteur team at the national level. They will select/elect one from the team as the national level HRC Rapporteur.

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Role of the HRC Convener

The HRC Conveners at the national level will have to plan, organize, conduct seminars, workshop, agitations demonstrations, protest training or any other such

programmes which may promote the protection of the Human Rights and conscientise the students on the Human Rights violations.The HRC Conveners will have to visit the units and different parts of the state to spread awareness on Human Rights violation and to equip them to protect the Human Rights.