Swetha Rajashekar
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, St Joseph’s Evening college (Autonomous) organised an international webinar on the theme ‘Relevance of Human Rights in the Modern World’ on December 10, 2020 through Zoom platform and streamed live through Youtube. The webinar was jointly organised by AICUF, NSS, Women’s Forum and Harmony Association.

Prominent Human Rights Activists, Prof. Theodore Orlin, retd - Prof of Human Rights, UTICA College, New York and Prof. David Matas - International Human Rights Lawyer, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada were the panel of speakers.

While Ms Dorothy Deepa, Assistant Professor began the event with a word of prayer, Ms Vidya, Assistant Professor introduced and welcomed each of the speakers. Associate Professor, Dr Paul Newman, the moderator of the event, emphasised on ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ (UDHR) – a document of United Nation, mentioning that it is a gift to humanity which affirms that each one of us are entitled to certain rights and thus setting the tone for the event.

Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award winner, Prof. David Matas stated that what we need to address is not whether human rights are relevant today, but rather what we can do to make them more relevant today than they are now. Prof. Matas mentioned 20 quick suggestions of what we need to concentrate to make human rights relevant to each one of us. Some of the suggestions included, “Do not be silent, give human rights priority, make the worst first, speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, among others.

Prof Theodore Orlin, a recipient of prestigious awards and honors for his contribution and work in the field of human rights, alluded that we are living in very difficult times where human rights has been discredited and has critical problem amongst the whole world, a tread where the UDRH is being threatened. Prof Orlin emphasised that a good deal of our population is unaware of human rights and contended that the deepest problem we have is that most part of other populaces have rejected the very notion found within the 30 articles of UDHR. Prof. Orlin insisted that we have an obligation to make human rights a part of our society by reengaging the very principles of UDHR. Making UDHR a part of our teaching, part of our way of life, and not just making a promise but a reality that requires the efforts taken amongst ourselves. Including it in education and alike to ensure that from the earliest time from elementary school right to the university, the human rights message is reiterated, understood and made a commitment that we will use every effort to make it a realization.

The webinar concluded with Q&A session that saw many questions being asked and addressed by students and speakers respectively, followed by a word of thanks by Prof Balaji.
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