STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS Chapter - 11 11.1 In accordance with Section 21 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, State Human Rights Commission (SHRCs) have been set-up in 18 States – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. 11.2 The National Human Rights Commission is keen that every State sets up a State Human Rights Commission. The Commission recommends to all those States which have not yet constituted their Commissions to do so at the earliest. Further, the Commission has taken the initiative to hold regular interactions with the SHRCs to explore and further strengthen areas of cooperation and partnership. 11.3 In order to promote mutual cooperation between the NHRC and the State Human Rights Commission, the Joint Secretary of NHRC-India along with the Secretary of West Bengal Human Rights Commission participated in a three-day ‘International Conference on Systematic Work for Human Rights Implementation’ held at Sweden from 6-7 November 2008. 11.4 The Chairpersons and Secretaries of all the State Human Rights Commission were also invited for an interaction with Ms. Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights when she visited NHRC-India on 23 March 2009. 11.5 The Chairpersons and Secretaries of the different State Human Rights Commissions were also invited for various Conferences/Workshops organized by the Commission wherein they were requested to chair different sessions and hence contribute to the deliberations. 11.6 The NHRC once again recommends to all those State Governments/Union Territory Administrations who have so far not constituted their State Human Rights Commissions to take immediate steps to constitute their respective State Commissions. And in States/Union Territories, wherever such Commissions have been constituted, they are provided the required resources and other paraphernalia that is essential for their proper functioning. ***** 119