Human Dignity: Legal News and Research
The online weekly publication of Human Dignity: Legal News and Research is part of the foremost objective of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Human Rights (CASIHR), established by the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab: to undertake and promote advanced study and interdisciplinary research on major legal issues, national as well international, with the doctrine of human rights and human dignity at their very substantive core.
The publication of “Human Dignity: Legal News and Research” was enthusiastically conceived during a conversation last year between Dr. G.I.S. Sandhu, Registrar and Professor of Law, and Dr. S.R.S. Bedi, Professor of Law, RGNUL, while they were discussing the possibility of establishing the CASIHR as a centre of excellence of the RGNUL. Having meanwhile already established the Centre -- and having still gone a step further under the guidance of worthy Vice-Chancellor of Professor (Dr.) Paramjit S. Jaswal, by adding for the first time the specialization stream of International Law to B.A., LL.B. (HONS.) Five Years Integrated Programme of the University – when the idea of Human Dignity was mentioned to those students of the fourth year that became the first to opt for the specialization in International Law, the response to work with great dedication for such an undertaking was indeed immense and overwhelming, particularly from three enthusiastic and brilliant students: Yashasvi Nain, Sharad Kharra, and Rishab Raturi. Ankit Sarwa was another students keen to join the first editorial team. With the great help of these four pillars of his strength, and under ever so able and benign Vice-Chancellorship and Registrarship of Professors Jaswal and Sandhu, respectively, of the RGNUL, Prof. Bedi, the Coordinator of the CASIHR and the Chief Editor of Human Dignity, could bring out the very first issue of “Human Dignity: Legal News and Research” and see the CASIHR moving a great step forward in its mission.
With human rights as a doctrine of law and with the principle of respect for human dignity at its core, the thinking of human rights has not only unleashed worldwide an immensely explosive force of thought but there hardly is any academic discipline or human institution of governance whose substance or jurisdiction is not in one aspect or another related to this field. It is as if the doctrine has put the meaning of life on the agenda of mankind in its holistic perspective. From law makers to policy makers; from IGOs to NGOs; from any law enforcer or practitioner to judges in a court; and from national careers to international careers, be it civil or relating armed forces, all are placed face to face with human rights in one form or another.
The RGNUL has established a Centre for Advanced Studies in Human Rights (CASIHR) to undertake and promote advanced study and research in the emerging trends relating to this area. With human rights and the principle of respect for human dignity at its core -- and taking many cross-cutting issues into consideration -- the CASIHR aims at promoting, supporting and carrying out advanced studies and interdisciplinary research on numerous issues ranging from good governance to globalization processes, with a particular focus on: (i) human rights in national, regional and international perspectives; (ii) human rights in peace and war; (iii) human rights and human security; (iv) trade and sustainable development, (v) nuclear weapons and use of force by States; (vi) environmental degradation; (vii) democracy and rule of law; and (viii) human rights and good governance. In full recognition of the complex national and international issues involved, the CASIHR intends to approach any study and research from a multi-level and multi-actor perspective. Besides such studies and independent applied research, it ambitiously aims at (i) creating working documents serving as advices to policy makers on human rights governance and public policy issues; and (ii) to regularly organize conferences, seminars and debates on the relevant topics. The ultimate objective of the CASIHR is to emerge as a think tank for national and international issues relevant to promotion and protection of human rights and human dignity. The programme is no doubt highly ambitious, but so is the spirit of this university’s management, staff and students. The launching of Human Dignity: Legal News and Research – the first law university based internet weekly of its kind in India -- in such a short time is evident of it.
The publication of “Human Dignity: Legal News and Research” was enthusiastically conceived during a conversation last year between Dr. G.I.S. Sandhu, Registrar and Professor of Law, and Dr. S.R.S. Bedi, Professor of Law, RGNUL, while they were discussing the possibility of establishing the CASIHR as a centre of excellence of the RGNUL. Having meanwhile already established the Centre -- and having still gone a step further under the guidance of worthy Vice-Chancellor of Professor (Dr.) Paramjit S. Jaswal, by adding for the first time the specialization stream of International Law to B.A., LL.B. (HONS.) Five Years Integrated Programme of the University – when the idea of Human Dignity was mentioned to those students of the fourth year that became the first to opt for the specialization in International Law, the response to work with great dedication for such an undertaking was indeed immense and overwhelming, particularly from three enthusiastic and brilliant students: Yashasvi Nain, Sharad Kharra, and Rishab Raturi. Ankit Sarwa was another students keen to join the first editorial team. With the great help of these four pillars of his strength, and under ever so able and benign Vice-Chancellorship and Registrarship of Professors Jaswal and Sandhu, respectively, of the RGNUL, Prof. Bedi, the Coordinator of the CASIHR and the Chief Editor of Human Dignity, could bring out the very first issue of “Human Dignity: Legal News and Research” and see the CASIHR moving a great step forward in its mission.
With human rights as a doctrine of law and with the principle of respect for human dignity at its core, the thinking of human rights has not only unleashed worldwide an immensely explosive force of thought but there hardly is any academic discipline or human institution of governance whose substance or jurisdiction is not in one aspect or another related to this field. It is as if the doctrine has put the meaning of life on the agenda of mankind in its holistic perspective. From law makers to policy makers; from IGOs to NGOs; from any law enforcer or practitioner to judges in a court; and from national careers to international careers, be it civil or relating armed forces, all are placed face to face with human rights in one form or another.
The RGNUL has established a Centre for Advanced Studies in Human Rights (CASIHR) to undertake and promote advanced study and research in the emerging trends relating to this area. With human rights and the principle of respect for human dignity at its core -- and taking many cross-cutting issues into consideration -- the CASIHR aims at promoting, supporting and carrying out advanced studies and interdisciplinary research on numerous issues ranging from good governance to globalization processes, with a particular focus on: (i) human rights in national, regional and international perspectives; (ii) human rights in peace and war; (iii) human rights and human security; (iv) trade and sustainable development, (v) nuclear weapons and use of force by States; (vi) environmental degradation; (vii) democracy and rule of law; and (viii) human rights and good governance. In full recognition of the complex national and international issues involved, the CASIHR intends to approach any study and research from a multi-level and multi-actor perspective. Besides such studies and independent applied research, it ambitiously aims at (i) creating working documents serving as advices to policy makers on human rights governance and public policy issues; and (ii) to regularly organize conferences, seminars and debates on the relevant topics. The ultimate objective of the CASIHR is to emerge as a think tank for national and international issues relevant to promotion and protection of human rights and human dignity. The programme is no doubt highly ambitious, but so is the spirit of this university’s management, staff and students. The launching of Human Dignity: Legal News and Research – the first law university based internet weekly of its kind in India -- in such a short time is evident of it.