Promotion of Human Rights Literacy and Awareness 12.13 The Commission took part in the 55'^ Session of tlie United Nations Commission on Human RighB, during consideration of the item on National Institutions, between 19-22 April 199V in Geneva. Some 20 National Institutions took part in the debate. In an important development, the UN Commission on Human Rights made special arrangements for the participation of National Institutions in their own right, and with a status distinct fBDm others, in the proceedings of the Commission. 12.14 Parallel d the proceedings in the UN Commission on Human Rights, the International Cc ordinating Committee (ICC) of the National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection ofHuman Rights, which is the apex body of National Institutions, held its annual meeting. The National Human Rights Commission of India was unanimously eleaed to continue for the fourth conseaitive year as the chair of the ICC. The meetingwas ;.ddressed, among others, by Ms. Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Righ s. 12.15 The NHE-C was represented at this meetingby its members Shri Virendra Dayal and Justice Shri VS. Nfalimath. Addressing the Session onbehalfofthe Commission, Shri Virendra Dayal expressed his happiness at the arrangements made for National Institutions to participate in their own right in the work of the UN Human Rights Commission, and expressed the hqje that National Institutions which are independent and based on the 'Paris Principles' would be accorded a similar right of participation in other meetings of the United Nations where human rights were the focus. He felt this to be necessary, as National Institutions had a voice and a competence that was distinct from that of both Governments and NGOs. 12.16 A seminar was held in New Delhi on 1 July 1999 as part of the Indo-British Project on Prisot Reforms, which was jointly undertaken by the Commission, the British Council, the Bu-eau of Police Research and Development and PRAJA, an NGO. The seminar discussed jail management and training in India and the role of the judiciary in the protectiot of human rights. It also looked into the changing practices in prisons all over the worU, with a view to improving respect for human rights within prisons. The seminarwas attended by Mr. Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah, Chairperson of the Commission; Sir Rob Young, he British High Commissioner in India and other dignitaries. 12.17 A Natiomal Workshop on Human Rights Education was organized at the Indian Social Institute ^n 27 August 1999. The workshop, which was attended by more than a hundred academ ics, researchers, human rights activists and representatives of the Central and Slate Governments, emphasised that the content of human rights education must be broad-based, and in devising the content, efforts should be made to draw upon the talents of not oi ly all governmental bodies concerned, but also of scholars, intellectuals and leading NCOs and human rights activists. Human rights education in the country must be stimulacd from the primary school level to the university level, and must involve 77