NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Foreword Justice Shri H.L. Dattu Hon’ble Chairperson The National Human Rights Commission is pleased to present to the Parliament and public of India, its twenty-seventh Annual Report for the period from 1st April, 2019 to 31st March, 2020. 2. The National Human Rights Commission was established under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993. In its 27 years of long journey, the NHRC has been consistently doing a pioneering work in the field of protection and promotion of human rights across the country. The Commission discharges multifarious responsibilities, the most important of which is to link the Government and Civil Society. The Commission seeks to bridge the gap between responsibilities of the state and the rights of individuals to ensure that each citizen lives a life of self-respect and dignity. 3. Over the years, the Commission has concerted its efforts largely on the opportunities to serve the people of India and has unceasingly strived to empower them through recognition of their rights. It has consistently emphasized on the key features of human rights framework, which are principles of universality, non-discrimination and equality, principle of participatory decision making, the notion of accountability and recognition of interdependence of rights, in the course of its advocacy on matters related to rights of women, children, persons with disabilities, LGBTI, persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other vulnerable minorities and marginalized communities. In recognition of full compliance of UN mandated Paris Principles, NHRC has consecutively been accredited with ‘A’ status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and the Commission is proud to have participation in the work and decision-making of the GANHRI, Human Rights Council and other UN mechanisms. 4. While the State is primarily responsible for realization of human rights of its people, other States and non-State actors also have a responsibility to contribute towards prevention of violations of human rights. Therefore, the NHRC has earnestly followed a human rightscentered approach in its functioning with the Government at both the Central and States levels. The significant issues pertaining to human rights have been meticulously addressed either by taking suomoto cognizance, or when brought to the notice of Commission by the civil ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20 i