Asia Pacific Forum: President Murmu calls for protecting human rights, nature

Droupadi Murmu, India’s President, inaugurated the Asia Pacific Forum on Human Rights’ Annual General Meeting and Biennial Conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, underlining the interdependence of human rights and environmental conservation.

President Murmu addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of viewing human rights and environmental protection as interwoven causes. She emphasized the critical importance of caring for Mother Nature, which has suffered immensely as a result of human misbehavior.

In India, where every particle of the world is viewed as a manifestation of divinity, there is a call to rekindle love for nature and take action to conserve and enrich it before it is too late, according to a release from the President’s Secretariat.

President Murmu said, “We ensured a minimum of 33% reservation for women in local bodies election. A proposal to provide similar reservations for women in the State Assemblies and national Parliament is taking shape now. It will be the most transformative revolution in our times for gender justice.”

President Murmu emphasized that, while humans have the ability to create, they also have the ability to destroy.

According to scientific studies, the planet is currently in the sixth extinction phase, in which man-made degradation might lead to the extinction of not only the human race, but all life on Earth. In this context, the President emphasized that, beyond legal frameworks, the international community has a moral commitment to ensure human rights in all aspects.

Notably, one conference session is solely dedicated to debating environmental issues and climate change.

President Murmu expressed optimism that the summit would result in a comprehensive declaration that will benefit humanity and the world. In discussing India’s successes in promoting human rights, President Murmu emphasized the country’s dedication to universal adult franchise from the Republic’s establishment, which has resulted in substantial advances in gender justice and the protection of life and dignity, according to a news release.

She referred to the reservation of a minimum of 33% for women in local body elections, as well as the proposal for a similar quota in state assemblies and the national Parliament, as a transformative revolution for gender justice.