•
To conduct prompt and impartial investigations of alleged violations of
human rights;
•
To take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of everyone
against any violence, threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination,
pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her
legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the Declaration;
•
To promote public understanding of civil, political, economic, social and
cultural rights;
•
To ensure and support the creation and development of independent
national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights,
such as ombudsmen or human rights commissions;
•
To promote and facilitate the teaching of human rights at all levels of
formal education and professional training.
(c)
The responsibilities of everyone
The Declaration emphasizes that everyone has duties towards and within
the community and encourages us all to be HRDs. Articles 10, 11 and 18 outline
responsibilities for everyone to promote human rights, to safeguard democracy
and its institutions and not to violate the human rights of others. Article 11 makes
a special reference to the responsibilities of persons exercising professions that
can affect the human rights of others, and is especially relevant for police
officers, lawyers, judges, etc.
(d)
The role of national law
Article 3 and 4 outline the relationship of the Declaration to national and
international law with a view to assuring the application of the highest possible
legal standards of human rights.
Recent Developments
The GeneralAssembly has adopted a resolution on 15.03.2013 regarding
the protection of the HRDs. The resolution is annexed as Annexure ‘A’.
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