A Workshop was organized by PUCL (People’s Union for Civil Liberties) on Human Rights during Human Rights Week from 1st December to 3rd December 2023. The workshop was an attempt to understand the violations of a human at the individual level, structural level, systemic level, and finally the state level.

Throughout the 3 days, the workshop aimed to provide a framework to understand the violations of human rights at a certain level and the amalgamation of the state, system, structure, and self when these violations occur. The workshop was a fully-fledged activity-based one. We did numerous activities throughout the 3 days and thus came together as a community to build relationships beyond just our academic strata.

The workshop was conducted at ISI - Indian Sociology Institute, Bangalore on the 2nd and 3rd of December, 2023. The facilitators were Advocate Suresh, Advocate Aravind Narain, and Rajendra Sir who engaged with us and individually interacted with all of us. They conducted and participated along with us during the 3 days.

On day one participants were given ample time to get to know each other with names of our own choice, creating a new identity of ourselves and allowing oneself to recognize ourselves beyond what we usually are known for. Participants engaged in a trading activity through a game to understand the accumulation of wealth through the hands of a few, who then run the entire market and economy an understanding on how unions are formed and why they are crucial was provided.

On the second day, participants further understood the regular violations of the most vulnerable communities. Participants tried to identify some of the pressing issues and were asked to frame a constitution of our own wherein we tackle these issues and claim our rights. On the final day of the workshop, participants were given a comprehensive understanding of the framework within which the violations of rights exist thereby, knowing and identifying where these violations occur and how they can be urged to stop. The workshop paved the way towards an affirmative step in understanding ourselves for being Human.

Some of the reflections by our team who attended the workshop: “The workshop, essentially a profound learning journey, expanded my awareness on numerous fronts. Engaging with people who had navigated distinct life paths broadened my understanding of the complexities surrounding human rights issues. The immersion in this diverse environment facilitated an exchange of ideas and perspectives that went beyond the confines of traditional education.”
- Sameeksha, 5 BBA LLB

“Participating in the human rights workshop was a profoundly illuminating experience that encouraged in-depth reflections on the intricate nature of human relationships, resource utilization, and the critical role of human rights advocacy. The innovative activities of the workshop provided a unique lens through which to investigate these themes.”
- Sarangi and Akhilan, 2 BALLB B

“The workshop helped me understand the necessity of community building and gave a very important framework to recognize the root of several violations.”
- Kritika, 5 BALLB B