A two-week long interdisciplinary Refresher Course on Human Rights concluded at UGC-HRDC, University of Kashmir which was attended by a total of 40 Assistant Professors of various colleges and universities of the Kashmir valley.
According to the organizers the main aim and objectives of the course were to acquaint the participants with concepts related to the history and evolution of human rights, principles of human rights, significance, enforcement and protection of human rights in the context of the national and international law, human rights of the women, transgender, children, physically or mentally disabled, underprivileged, marginalized, poor sections of the society and to enhance their understanding about the inter-linkages of human rights with our education, environment, healthcare, culture, economy, polity and society.
While speaking at the valedictory function of the course acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, Prof. Nilofer Khan who was also the Chief Guest on the occasion stated that there is need to encourage the participants to incorporate compliance with human rights in the teaching-learning process and pedagogy by any or all possible means.
She said that such courses are helpful in addressing the attitude, beliefs, mindset, thinking and outlook of the participants in visualizing the issue of human rights in its right perspective.
Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir, Prof. Mehraj-ud-Din Mir who was the Guest of Honour at this occasion spoke at length about the importance of human rights in the contemporary world at the national and international level and narrated several case studies to make his point. He threw light on the history and evolution of human rights and urged the participants of the course to understand various perspectives, challenges, gaps, barriers, prospects in literature, policies, practices, pedagogy, epistemology and ontology of human rights.
Director, UGC-HRDC, KU Prof. Shabir Ahmad Bhat while welcoming the guests highlighted the significance of human rights in the contemporary world and said that all human beings are entitled to human rights irrespective of gender, caste, creed, colour, inheritance, lineage, financial or social status, ethnicity or religion.
Human rights apart from being an area of study and part of curriculum, academics and research, are also a topic of discussion, observation and analysis worldwide owing to fast-changing geo-political scenario around the world. He further said that the universities have a role to create awareness about human rights and fundamental duties which are essential for individual and social development.
Course Coordinator, Prof. Mohammad Ayub, Dean, School of Law, University of Kashmir and Assistant Coordinator, Mr. Yasir Abbas gave details about the resource persons invited and topics covered during the two week long course. In his address Prof. Ayub stated that several documentaries pertaining to the refugees of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan etc were screened during the course and the participants were asked to write and present their reports on the same.
Dr. Mohammad Ishaq Geer, Coordinator UGC-HRDC conducted the proceedings of the session. While elaborating upon the design and conduct of the course, he explained how this course has impacted the thinking, knowledge and beliefs of the participants about human rights and how the knowledge gained will be transmitted down to their students back at their colleges.