Human rights not an outside concept: Lok Sabha speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Wednesday said human rights was not an "outside" concept as Indian culture talks not only of rights of human beings but also gives respect to plants and trees.

Addressing a function organised to mark Human Rights Day here, she said it was sad to see girls, who are in their early 20s, being married off.

"Whenever, I go to my constituency and to other areas of the country, I often see girls being married off at very early stage of their lives," Mahajan said.

"Why this is being done? It's about her rights, her right to education, her right to choose life partner," she said.

The speaker said the concept of human rights and even the rights of non-living things has been imbibed in Indian culture for a long time.

"Why it seems that the concept of human rights has come from outside... it's been there in our country for a long time. Here we not only talk about human rights but the rights of trees and even non-living things," she said.

Mahajan said every person's rights were equally important and must be protected at all costs.

"Women are also humans as they too have similar feelings like men, so they should also be treated as humans when it comes to protecting humans rights," she said.

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon's message was read out on the occasion.

The function was attended by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman K.G. Balakrishnan.

Mahajan also released six publications of the NHRC on the occasion.