The workshop on Human Rights and Law was held at Ranchi, Jharkhand on 14^th and 15^th July 2012. It dealt with a range of human rights issues in Jharkhand such as police/security forces brutality, essential services in conflict zones (food, health, schools and so on), atrocities on dalits, conditions of prisoners, Forest Rights Act and related issues, displacement, human rights defenders, communalism, and struggles of the urban poor: slums and hawkers in the state.

Mr. Mahatab Alam who moderated the workshop pointed out that themotive behind the Ranchi workshop was twofold. First, to build a network of human rights activists and lawyers in the state of Jharkhand to practically deal with issues such as police atrocities, displacement, food security and so on. Second, to document and focus on the state and police attack on human rights defenders who are raising their voice against illegal mining, police atrocities and other human rights violations in the state. These human rights defenders include lawyers, journalists, women’s rights activists, and those fighting against displacement and other issues. Towards the end of the session, the participants were requested to share their ideas and suggestions on how can we strengthen the network and effectively fight against human rights violations in Jharkhand through law.

Today, defending human rights is at a critical stage as the defenders of the human rights are under a continuous attack by the state authorities. Defending human rights in the absence of the defenders is a task which is impossible to accomplish. At the state forum discussion on Human Rights Defenders, Human rights law network has portrayed its indisputable motive of bringing together all the Human Rights Defenders, activists, lawyers and grass root level social workers under single roof to uphold the spirit of humanity, while raising the essence of human rights. An exclusive component to achieve the dream of building a right full society is to achieve cognizance between the action and the noble thoughts in all the defenders of Human Rights.