New York: Actress and Human Rights Ambassador Sheena Chohan brought India’s constitutional values to the global stage by addressing the United Nations during the annual United for Human Rights Conference in New York. Appearing through a special video presentation displayed on two giant screens, she urged that human rights education and constitutional awareness become mandatory parts of every Indian student’s education.
Recognised for her contribution to promoting equality and human rights, Sheena was honoured with the prestigious Human Rights Hero Award at the United Nations. The recognition celebrates her efforts in spreading awareness about human rights and equality to more than 120 million people.
Her presentation also featured messages from several leading personalities from the Indian film industry, including Sonakshi Sinha, Sonu Sood, Raveena Tandon, Imtiaz Ali, Nandita Das, Sanjana Sanghi, Parvathy, Anushka Sen, Karan Tacker, Adinath Kothare, Ruchi Narain, Saket Chaudhary, and Shonali Bose, who collectively emphasized the importance of understanding constitutional rights and promoting equality.
Addressing delegates at the United Nations, Sheena Chohan highlighted the recent example of Rhiya Ahir, stating that awareness of constitutional rights enabled her to challenge the alleged illegal detention of protesters. According to Sheena, the incident demonstrated how knowledge of the Indian Constitution can empower ordinary citizens to stand for justice.
Sheena encouraged people to study both the Constitution of India and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, urging citizens to understand their rights rather than simply memorise them. She said constitutional awareness is essential for building a fair, informed and democratic society.
Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha stressed that the Right to Education forms the foundation of equality, dignity and opportunity. She said education empowers every child to dream, question and shape their future while strengthening society, praising students across India for their resilience and determination.
Veteran actress Raveena Tandon echoed the importance of constitutional literacy, calling for the Constitution to be simplified and basic civic rights to be taught to children from an early age. She suggested that constitutional education should become a compulsory part of the school curriculum alongside subjects such as history and civics.
Reinforcing her vision, Sheena Chohan also linked her appeal to India’s National Education Policy (NEP), saying that constitutional awareness and human rights education should become practical and mandatory learning for every student. She argued that understanding fundamental rights is among the most valuable life skills young citizens can possess.
The presentation concluded with a powerful message that constitutional literacy and human rights awareness are vital for creating an informed, equal and empowered society. With the support of some of Bollywood’s biggest voices on an international platform, Sheena Chohan’s address underscored the importance of educating future generations about their rights, responsibilities and democratic values.
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