Today in History (August 28th, 1963)
On this day in 1963, approximately 200,000 individuals participated in a historic march in Washington, D.C. This event marked a significant moment in the civil rights movement and is particularly renowned for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Summary of Today’s News
Char Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojana
The “Char Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojana” is a significant infrastructure development project aimed at enhancing and expanding approximately 900 kilometers of national highways that connect the revered Hindu pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri in India. This initiative, estimated to cost around Rs. 12,000 crores, aims to improve the road network to these holy sites.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), headquartered in Geneva, aids refugees, displaced individuals, and stateless populations, facilitating repatriation, integration, or resettlement. Established in 1950, it originated from the post-World War II European crisis, expanding globally. It addresses refugee issues worldwide, backed by UNGA & ECOSOC, funded primarily through voluntary contributions (~85% from governments & EU. It won the Nobel Peace Prize twice (1954, 1981).
UN Refugee Convention
The 1951 UN Refugee Convention established a comprehensive framework to define the status of refugees and provide guidelines for host nations to safeguard their rights. It outlines the criteria for determining refugee status, which includes being outside one’s country due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on factors like race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Such individuals are unable or unwilling to avail themselves of their home country’s protection or return due to fear of persecution. The convention grants refugees various rights, including protection from expulsion except under specific conditions, no punishment for illegal entry into a host country, access to work, housing, education, public relief, religious freedom, legal remedies, and freedom of movement within the host country’s territory. Refugees are also entitled to identity and travel documents. India is not a signatory of this convention.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) safeguards rights for those under 18. It guarantees education, protection from abuse, and other rights. Aimed at bettering children’s lives globally, UNCRC sets principles including survival, respect, non-discrimination, and safety. While India ratified UNCRC in 1992, child labor persists. Despite challenges, UNCRC advances children’s rights and well-being, aided by UNICEF and global cooperation.
