The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated the Annual General Meeting and Biennial Conference of the Asia Pacific Forum on Human Rights today in New Delhi.
During her address, President Murmu stressed the importance of not treating human rights in isolation but also giving due attention to nurturing Mother Nature, which has suffered from the indiscretions of human beings. She highlighted India’s belief that every particle of the universe is a manifestation of divinity and called for a rekindling of humanity’s love for nature to conserve and enrich it before it’s too late.
The President pointed out that humans have the power to create as well as destroy and noted that scientific studies indicate that the planet is currently experiencing a sixth extinction phase, driven by man-made destruction. She emphasized that it’s not just a matter of codified law but a moral obligation of the international community to ensure human rights in every sense.
President Murmu expressed her satisfaction that one session of the conference is exclusively dedicated to the topic of environment and climate change. She expressed confidence that the conference would yield a comprehensive declaration that contributes to the betterment of humanity and the planet.
Discussing India’s commitment to human rights, President Murmu highlighted the adoption of universal adult franchise and the numerous silent revolutions in gender justice and life protection enabled by the Indian Constitution. She also mentioned the ongoing proposal to provide a minimum of 33 percent reservation for women in state assemblies and the national Parliament, describing it as a transformative revolution for gender justice.
President Murmu concluded by affirming India’s readiness to learn from global best practices in improving human rights and emphasized the vital role of the Asia Pacific Region Forum in evolving international consensus through deliberation and consultation with human rights institutions and stakeholders worldwide.