Seminar on Universal Declaration of Human Rights Act, 1948
On 17 Jan 2020, APNA held a seminar at Nabeel Public School, Bettiah, with 250+ students and teachers on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sessions covered trafficking, gender justice, freedom, and workplace protections, stressing awareness as the first step to empowerment.
Empowering Students
On 17th January 2020, the Association for Parivartan of Nation conducted a seminar at Nabeel Public School, Bettiah, Bihar, with the theme “Universal Declaration of Human Rights Act, 1948.” The session witnessed an enthusiastic participation of over 250 students and teachers, who engaged in discussions about the meaning and relevance of human rights in present-day India. The seminar began with an interactive exercise where students listed rights they felt were most important for their lives. This simple activity revealed a striking gap; while many mentioned education and food, very few associated rights with dignity, equality, or freedom of expression.
Mr Masoom Raza, APNA team member, contextualised this gap by stating,
“One of the major human rights violations in India can be understood by the fact that governmental studies estimate approximately 2.8 million Indian women engaged in prostitution are victims of trafficking- an increase of 22% compared to the earlier estimate. This is not just a number; it is a reminder of the lives and dignity being lost every day.”
The discussion also connected global human rights frameworks to everyday struggles in India. Students learned how these rights safeguard equal work opportunities, religious freedom, the right to love and marry freely, protection against abuse, and freedom of expression. They were encouraged to see human rights not as abstract international law, but as tools for everyday empowerment and accountability. Focusing on gender justice, APNA facilitators held a special session with girls and young women, introducing them to the Vishakha Guidelines and “The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.” Many participants admitted it was the first time they had heard about workplace protections. This seminar reaffirmed APNA’s belief that awareness is the first step toward empowerment. By weaving together rights, education, gender justice, and accountability, the initiative continues to push forward its vision of a society rooted in legitimate rights, equity, justice, and social sensitivity.
