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Urgent Action
First UA: 49/20 Index: ASA 20/2269/2020 India Date: 5 May 2020 URGENT ACTION PROTESTORS ARRESTED FOR OPPOSING BIGOTED LAW Meeran Haider, Shifa-Ur-Rehman and Safoora Zargar (who is three months pregnant) have been arrested for peacefully protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a law that legitimizes discrimination on the basis of religion and stands in clear violation of the Constitution of India and international human rights law. Detained under the repressive Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the three can be held without charge for up to 180 days - or even longer - a duration far exceeding international standards. With no provisions for adequate pre-trial safeguards against torture and other ill-treatment contained in the UAPA, as well as the imminent threat of a COVID-19 outbreak in the prison, there are grave concerns for the wellbeing of the three activists. TAKE ACTION: 1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them. 2. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 49.20. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help. Mr Amit Shah Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu Union Home Minister of India Embassy of India Due to postal restrictions caused by COVID-19, please only 2107 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20008 send physical mail to the Embassy Phone: 202 939 7000 I Fax: 202 265 4351 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @IndianEmbassyUS @SandhuTaranjitS Twitter: @amitshah Facebook: @IndiaInUSA Instagram: @indianembassyus Salutation: Dear Ambassador Dear Union Home Minister, I write to express my deep concern about the arrest of peaceful protestors Safoora Zargar (who is three months pregnant), Meeran Haider and Shifa-Ur-Rehman. -
Delhi Police Fir Complaint Online
Delhi Police Fir Complaint Online Sociological and clad Ezekiel cringed while thundery Caleb deplored her paltering musically and dovetails tandem. Sometimes unattempted Jean-Paul maintains her corrigendum ambiguously, but cronk Ikey redistribute necessarily or buck catastrophically. Rand expurgating his prothallus evite sharp, but bibliopolic Chris never sap so patrilineally. Their account sharing, it easy through the same fir copy of the first step to be satisfied that exists in future money after it online delhi police. Looking for registering fir online fir? Web Application to trade people register complaints of now lost items and documents. Just wanna input on few general things, The website pattern is fix, the subject material is all excellent. Investigations help with original certificates. Following are legal complaints online fir? The complaint in police website of them in which empower this site stylesheet or other cities in public unless members claim insurance or brand. You obviously know what youre talking with, why do away your intelligence with just posting videos to block site when none could use giving us something enlightening to read? This facility to escape from us if any criminal conduct a significant aspect of delhi rail station physically injury, only in these difficult to make experience. How Digital Payment was leveraged during COVID times? Believe those in any, vai perceber que começar a complaint authority provided to note? Your husband and to avoid future if you agree to get himself at spuwc to his friend again very dignity of phone. Delhi Police is hard on what system restore which symbol of frost of motor vehicles in the national capital stock be registered online and there would feel a digitized system find the stolen automobile would be searched everyday among recovered vehicle. -
Daring to Stand up for Human Rights in a Pandemic
DARING TO STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN A PANDEMIC Artwork by Jaskiran K Marway @J.Kiran90 INDEX: ACT 30/2765/2020 AUGUST 2020 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH amnesty.org 1 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 1. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS DURING A PANDEMIC 5 2. ATTACKS DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS 7 2.1 COVID-19, A PRETEXT TO FURTHER ATTACK DEFENDERS AND REDUCE CIVIC SPACE 8 2.2 THE DANGERS OF SPEAKING OUT ON THE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC 10 2.3 DEFENDERS EXCLUDED FROM RELEASE DESPITE COVID-19 – AN ADDED PUNISHMENT 14 2.4 DEFENDERS AT RISK LEFT EXPOSED AND UNPROTECTED 16 2.5 SPECIFIC RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IDENTITY OF DEFENDERS 17 3. RECOMMENDATIONS 20 4. FURTHER DOCUMENTATION 22 INDEX: ACT 30/2765/2020 AUGUST 2020 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH amnesty.org 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The COVID-19 pandemic and states’ response to it have presented an array of new challenges and threats for those who defend human rights. In April 2020, Amnesty International urged states to ensure that human rights defenders are included in their responses to address the pandemic, as they are key actors to guarantee that any measures implemented respect human rights and do not leave anyone behind. The organization also called on all states not to use pandemic-related restrictions as a pretext to further shrink civic space and crackdown on dissent and those who defend human rights, or to suppress relevant information deemed uncomfortable to the government.1 Despite these warnings, and notwithstanding the commitments from the international community over two decades ago to protect and recognise the right to defend human rights,2 Amnesty International has documented with alarm the continued threats and attacks against human rights defenders in the context of the pandemic. -
Arrested and Charged in Coordinated Raids Across India
31 August 2018 India: Five human rights defenders arrested and charged in coordinated raids across India On 28 August 2018, five human rights defenders were arrested and several others’ residences, including Father Stan Swamy’s, were raided in a coordinated crackdown by Pune police in different parts of India. Sudha Bhadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves, Varavara Rao, Gautam Navlakha and Arun Ferreira were all arrested in different cities under a host of charges, including terrorism-related charges. Sudha Bhardwaj is a human rights lawyer, with a focus on protecting the rights of adivasi (indigenous) people in the state of Chattisgarh. She has acted as legal representation in several cases of extrajudicial executions of adivasis and has represented adivasis and activists before the National Human Rights Commission of India. She also serves as the General Secretary of the Chattisgarh People’s Union for Civil Liberties. Vernon Gonsalves is an academic and writer, who writes extensively on Dalit and adivasi rights, the conditions of prisons in India and the rights of prisoners. He has also advocated for scrapping the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, a draconian piece of anti-terror legislation with a wide ambit and vague concepts, which allows its misuse against academics, lawyers and human rights defenders. In recent times, it has been used repeatedly to target people expressing dissent. Varavara Rao is an acclaimed academic, well known for his progressive writings. He regularly takes part in various social activism activities and often speaks publicly on human rights issues. Gautam Navlakha is a human rights defender and journalist. He was the Secretary of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights, a non-governmental organisation committed to legally defending civil liberties and democratic rights by protecting, extending and helping implement fundamental rights as guaranteed in the Indian constitution. -
Addressing the Challenges That Human Rights Defenders Face in the Context of Business Activities in an Age of a Shrinking Civil Society Space
Wednesday 18 November 10:00 to 11:20 Room XX (Building E) Addressing the challenges that Human Rights Defenders face in the context of business activities in an age of a shrinking civil society space There is a growing clampdown worldwide against human rights defenders who challenge specific economic paradigms, the presence of corporations and harmful business conduct. Too often, Governments detain human rights defenders, prevent them from raising funds, restrict their movements, place them under surveillance and, in some cases, authorize their torture and murder. Meanwhile, many companies either stand by as Governments employ tough law and order responses against defenders, or they aggressively target defenders who challenge their activities through legal or other means. Against this bleak backdrop, a number of progressive companies recognize the need and value in communicating effectively with communities affected by their projects. Without a social license to operate, companies face many problems that can affect their operations, increase a project’s costs and success and it can harm the firm’s overall reputation. The freedom human rights defenders enjoy plays an essential role in ensuring the legitimacy of a company’s operations. An open, secure civic space enables defenders to build inclusive, stable societies characterised by the rule of law that contribute to a favourable investment climate and operating conditions for companies. This session will explore how to overcome the risks that defenders, who challenge business conduct, face in a world in which civil society at large fights for its place. It will showcase the experiences of prominent defenders and companies operating in complex environments. -
Pute: a Case Study of the Kashmir Floods By
Reuters Institute Fellowship Paper University of Oxford Media Propaganda and the Kashmir Dis- pute: A Case Study of the Kashmir Floods by Wasim Khalid Michaelmas and Hilary Terms 2015 - 2016 Sponsor: Thomson Reuters Foundation 1 Acknowledgements Sometimes ideas strike journalists to their very core. They want to dig deeper into the issues to understand them. However, due to the paucity of time and space, most of the time scribes fail to do so. I wanted to go deeper into the issue of media coverage of the 2014 Kashmir floods, examining it as part of a broader political dispute. Neither time or space, nor the proper funds were available to carry out the study. I am immensely thankful to the Reuters Institute for the Study Journalism (RISJ) for accepting the research proposal and thereby giving me an opportunity to look into the depths of the sub- ject. I am also thankful to the Thomson Reuters Foundation for funding my fellowship. The study would not have been possible without the help of my supervisor, Caroline Lees. Her suggestions and guidance at crucial junctures were helpful and kept me focused on the subject. I am highly indebted to her for listening to my suggestions and giving me the required freedom to go into the various issues concerning my subject. I am thankful to Dr James Painter for patiently listening to my queries and for his suggestions concerning the research topic. He has been always caring and his wit and guidance have been of immense help while carrying out the study. In fact, it was during my first meeting with Dr. -
2020 Human Rights Appeal
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS APPEAL 2020 UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS APPEAL 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. FOREWORD BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER 4 2. UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2019 6 3. ROADMAP TO 2021 10 4. UN HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD IN 2020 38 5. FUNDING AND BUDGET 40 6. TRUST FUNDS 50 7. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE 52 8. ANNEXES 54 . OHCHR MANAGEMENT PLAN 2018-2021 - ELEMENTS FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE - ELEMENTS FOCUSED ON DIGITAL SPACE AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES - ELEMENTS FOCUSED ON CORRUPTION - ELEMENTS FOCUSED ON INEQUALITIES - ELEMENTS FOCUSED ON PEOPLE ON THE MOVE . UN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION CHART . ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS UN HUMAN RIGHTS APPEAL 2020 3 FOREWORD BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOREWORD BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOREWORD BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER It is an honour to present the annual Human rights work is In the following pages, we outline the I believe that today’s challenges mean our appeal of my Office for 2020. My first year strategies and partnerships we are expertise is vitally needed. We appreciate as High Commissioner has reaffirmed my an investment. It is an devising to tackle these challenges. To the support we have received from our conviction that your political and financial investment many of you successfully deliver real human rights 78 donors in 2019, 63 of them being investment is crucial for the success impact in these areas, we know we also Member States. The US$172.1 million in our efforts to promote and protect have chosen to make, in need to align our organizational processes they provided to the Office constituted a human rights. -
The UN Definition of Human Rights Defenders: Alternative Interpretative Approaches
2019 QMHRR 5(1) ISSN 2059-8092 The UN Definition of Human Rights Defenders: Alternative Interpretative Approaches Aikaterini Christina Koula* Abstract Human rights defenders play a crucial role in promoting the realisation of human rights and, in doing so, are often subject to human rights violations.The article explores who can be a human rights defender and particularly looks at the definition of defenders derived from Article 1 of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The definition is broad and vague, as it concerns anyone who fights for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Recognising that the scope of the Declaration was uncertain, in 2004 the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published Fact Sheet 29 in an attempt to provide guidance on how to approach it. The Fact Sheet establishes three requirements to be a defender; however, the definition remains problematic. The aim of the article is to show through examples that the requirements are themselves so vague that they could provoke misunderstandings, thereby limiting the effectiveness of the Declaration and to propose alternative interpretative approaches. Key Words Human Rights Defenders – definition – Declaration on HRDs – UNCHR Fact Sheet 29 – minimum standards – risk. 1. Introduction Human rights defenders (HRDs)1 play a crucial role in protecting and promoting the realisation of human rights. Their actions in improving human rights contribute in an important way to enhancing security and stability and to the promotion of the rule of law and respect for the international human rights framework.2 Due to the sensitivity of their work, human rights defenders are potentially exposed to serious human rights violations, including attacks and abuse. -
Days and Nights in the Heartland of Rebellion
Days and Nights in the Heartland of Rebellion Gautam Navlakha When every abuse has been hurled and epithet SPOs, all heavily armed, have been deployed employed against the Maoists, half-truths and [1]. Besides, Union Minister of Home P untruths begin to acquire wings. They are Chidambaram categorically asserted that Indian diagnosed, dissected, and demonised; the government had a “legitimate right” to use “as intelligentsia are reluctant to face facts. Yet we much force as necessary” against the Maoists are still compelled to demystify reality and to (Times of India, March 13, 2010). An answer some fundamental questions: Why this extraordinary control regime is in place, which war? Who are these people, the “single biggest among other things, regulates entry and exit into threat” to Indiaʼs internal security? What is their areas held by the Maoists guerillas, somewhat politics? Why do they justify violence? How do akin to entering another country. Unless people they perceive their “peopleʼs war”, their political carry identity cards signed by the goals and themselves? How do they intend to Superintendent of Police they can neither enter take a leap from their forest strongholds into the nor exit from the area. As for movement of world outside? goods, this too has been curtailed; weekly markets have been shifted to local security This desire to humanize the demonised and to camps, where one has to register oneself, get to know the Maoists first hand, i.e., not provide list of members for whom rations is simply through conversations, books, and needed, and allowed rations which can last for documents, but to travel and meet and to see for no more than a week. -
FAMILY LIFE of UNDERTRIAL PRISONERS Abstract
FAMILY LIFE OF UNDERTRIAL PRISONERS Abstract Undertrial prisoners when incarcerated effects many things not only their life inside the prison but even outside is affected. There is a lot of ambush that their family has to go through. Its not even limited to people in the society but their own blood related relatives severe their ties with the family of the prisoner. This is not even limited to the time when the prisoner is incarcerated even after release there are the same society and relatives and the difficulty doesn’t lessen instead the whole family is seen as a convicted person even if they are falsely accused just because they have stayed in prison. Introduction Undertrial prisoners are those who have been convicted for offences which they are accused of committing. In layman’s term any prisoner which is undergoing trial in the courts of Indian is known as undertrial prisoners in India. The 78th Report of Law commission those prisoners awaiting in prisons for their trial with non bailable offence or them whose bail amounts are so high that they cannot afford it were also included with those out on bail. Also, the prisoners whose charge sheets are not filed and their trial has not even commenced but they are taken into custody.1 These prisoners are not convicted2 and are just accused of a certain crime and their trial process still remains. It is well known how the family of prisoners are treated and for a matter of fact they are the poor who are in an abundance been incarcerated, making the people with them who are most probably illiterate believe that they have been convicted of an offence and not the petty ones. -
“Everyone Has Been Silenced”; Police
EVERYONE HAS BEEN SILENCED Police Excesses Against Anti-CAA Protesters In Uttar Pradesh, And The Post-violence Reprisal Citizens Against Hate Citizens against Hate (CAH) is a Delhi-based collective of individuals and groups committed to a democratic, secular and caring India. It is an open collective, with members drawn from a wide range of backgrounds who are concerned about the growing hold of exclusionary tendencies in society, and the weakening of rule of law and justice institutions. CAH was formed in 2017, in response to the rising trend of hate mobilisation and crimes, specifically the surge in cases of lynching and vigilante violence, to document violations, provide victim support and engage with institutions for improved justice and policy reforms. From 2018, CAH has also been working with those affected by NRC process in Assam, documenting exclusions, building local networks, and providing practical help to victims in making claims to rights. Throughout, we have also worked on other forms of violations – hate speech, sexual violence and state violence, among others in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar and beyond. Our approach to addressing the justice challenge facing particularly vulnerable communities is through research, outreach and advocacy; and to provide practical help to survivors in their struggles, also nurturing them to become agents of change. This citizens’ report on police excesses against anti-CAA protesters in Uttar Pradesh is the joint effort of a team of CAH made up of human rights experts, defenders and lawyers. Members of the research, writing and advocacy team included (in alphabetical order) Abhimanyu Suresh, Adeela Firdous, Aiman Khan, Anshu Kapoor, Devika Prasad, Fawaz Shaheen, Ghazala Jamil, Mohammad Ghufran, Guneet Ahuja, Mangla Verma, Misbah Reshi, Nidhi Suresh, Parijata Banerjee, Rehan Khan, Sajjad Hassan, Salim Ansari, Sharib Ali, Sneha Chandna, Talha Rahman and Vipul Kumar. -
GENDER and MILITARISATION in KASHMIR By
BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND NATION: GENDER AND MILITARISATION IN KASHMIR By Seema Kazi A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of PhD London School of Economics and Political Science The Gender Institute 2007 UMI Number: U501665 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U501665 Published by ProQuest LLC 2014. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract This thesis focuses on the militarisation of a secessionist movement involving Kashmiri militants and Indian military forces in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The term militarisation in this thesis connotes the militarised state and, more primarily, the growing influence of the military within the state that has profound implications for state and society. In contrast to conventional approaches that distinguish between inter and intra-state military conflict, this thesis analyses India’s external and domestic crises of militarisation within a single analytic frame to argue that both dimensions are not mutually exclusive but have common political origins. Kashmir, this thesis further argues, exemplifies the intersection between militarisation’s external and domestic dimensions.