PREFACE a wide range of legislative, procedural, economic and other measures to prevent, prohibit and criminalize terrorist acts. A global war against terrorism was declared. And India, which had been the victim of vicious acts of terrorism since the 1980s, and had often fought that war alone, found itself in the centre of the conflict, in a battle that had to be fought and won. This, the Commission fully understood and recognised; for the right to life — which terrorists hold in contempt — is the most basic of all rights, without which human beings can exercise no other right. It was not always easy, however, given the compulsion of circumstances, for those in authority to hold steadfastly to the view that the purpose of anti-terrorism measures must be to protect democracy and human rights and not undermine them, even inadvertently. For its part, the Commission held to its position that the Constitution of our country had, as its core values, both the defence of national integrity and of individual dignity; that the security of the State and the security of the individual were not incompatible as objectives, but entirely consistent with each other; that there was need to balance the two; and that any law or measures devised to combat terrorism had to be in harmony with the Constitution, the international treaties to which India was a party, and respectful of the principles of necessity and proportionality. The virtue of periods of challenge is that they compel both individuals and institutions to define their true character and purpose. The year 2001-2002 was such a period in the life of the National Human Rights Commission. In addition to the position of principle that it took in opposing the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance 2001, the Commission had to define the position that it should take on other issues of considerable societal and political importance to the country. Notable among these issues was the stance that the country should take in respect of Dalits at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and All Related Forms of Intolerance held in Durban between 31 August - 8 September 2001. The Commission expressed the view that it was not the 'nomenclature' of the form of discrimination that must engage our attention, but the fact of its persistence that must cause us concern and compel us to act. The Constitution of India, in Article 15, expressly prohibits discrimination on the grounds both of 'race' and 'caste' and that constitutional guarantee had to be vigorously implemented. The Commission held the view that the instruments of governance in our country, and the energetic and committed non-governmental sector of society NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION