Human Right Awareness and Advocacy Role of Youth in Kerala: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

Human rights are inherent with our nature and are essential as they provide dignity, freedom and protection. Human rights awareness is an ability of individual to have consciousness on their basic rights. It is vital to address the underlying causes of human rights violations, prevent human rights violations, fight racism, promote equality and increase participation of citizens in democratic decision-making (Council of European Portal, 2017). Transformational human rights learning imbues people with knowledge that world should be and can be different. Practice, opportunities to learn new lessons and skills are a core element of human rights learning (Tolman, 2000). Active youth participation in the process of inculcating human right values for combat violations and create a society with justice and peace. They can disseminate information on human rights and it can make youth as advocates of human rights. The present study focused to find the role of youth to protect human rights and their involvement in the activities of welfare programmes as National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK). The study showed that awareness of the human rights of youth and their efforts to protect their rights are positively interrelated, as awareness can lead to advocacy and this is achieved through NSS and NYK programs.