The New Nation - Internet Edition

IT is about 60 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN and over 36 years of independence that a serious issue has been raised that 'policemen violate human rights for lack of knowledge about the same. The shortcoming of the police force has been recognised by none else but the police chief. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is reported to have said that for lack of knowledge, policemen in many countries violate human rights. He made this remark while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Commonwealth Human Rights Training for the police officers.

But this is not the whole truth. The other aspect is that the police force with a strong background of being developed under colonial rule is yet to be fully equipped to suit the needs of an independent country by freeing itself completely from that legacy. There are training facilities for the police force. Against this backdrop, it is a disturbing revelation that police are ignorant of human rights and that they violate those out of ignorance. The police force comprise members of the same society and must be aware that avaoidable arrest or impairment of an earning member may lead to the ruination of a whole family.

The ongoing training programme, it is hoped, would give trainees adequate knowledge about human rights. The police are protectors of life, property and rights of the people they serve. All members of the police force should be provided with copies of pocket books on UN declaration of human rights and fundamental rights of the citizens for ready reference. Such pocket books in Bangla are already there with the UNDP. The problem should be addressed with all seriousness in right earnest to make police friends of the people.