UN – 19th UN Human Rights Council – Oral Statement delivered by Mr. Henri Tiphagne on behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights Development, Asian Centre for Human Rights, Common Wealth Human Rights initiative, Habitat International Coalition in the 19th regular session of the United Nations Council, immediately after the submission of the report on the situations of the Human Right Defenders in India by Ms.Margaret Segakkya, United nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders. click here to download
Indian Government Oral Statement at the UN Human Rights Council on Human Rights Defender
Dear Friends / Colleagues,
Greetings from Human Rights Defenders Alert – India (HRDA)!
HRDA is a Forum of Human Rights Defenders for Human Rights Defenders with over a thousand from across the nation. It endeavours to initiate actions on behalf of Human Rights Defenders under threat or with security concerns mainly through our urgent appeals program.
We are pleased to share with you the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders (UN SR on HRDs) dated 6th February, 2012. This report is to be considered in the Agenda Item No. 3 in the 19th session of the Human Rights Council to be held in March, 2012 in Geneva.
The mission of the UN SR on HRDs to India, Ms. Margaret Sekaggya, took place between the 10th and the 21st of January 2011. I, in the capacity of the National Honorary Working Secretary of HRDA – India along with the support, collaboration and fullest cooperation of the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR) had the privilege of accompanying the UN SR on HRDs during this visit of hers. Click here to get Special Reapporteur report
We would also like to request you to become a member of HRDA if you are not one yet, so that our urgent appeals program becomes stronger. If you would like to be a member, please take a few minutes out to fill the attached application form and send it to hrda.india@gmail.com Click here to download application form
Looking forward to having you on the team,
With best regards,
Henri Tiphagne
Honorary Working Secretary
Human Rights Defenders Alert – India
12 October 2011
India – Police raid the home of human rights defender Ms Kavita Srivastava
On 3 October 2011, the home of human rights defender Ms Kavita Srivastava in Jaipur city, Rajasthan state was raided by sixty police officers from the states of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajendra Singh Shekhawat. Kavita Srivastava is the National General Secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). PUCL, which was established in 1976, is one of the oldest human rights organisations in India and has the aim of supporting grassroots movements and empowering poor people. Kavita Srivastava links the raid on her home to her human rights activity, as she has been active in exposing the human rights abuses against Muslim minorities and the poor.
It is reported that between 6.30 am and 7 am on 3 October, an armed contingent of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan police arrived in trucks at the home of Kavita Srivastava in Jaipur. The police claimed that they had a search warrant authorising the search of the house detailing the address but not the name of the individual. The officers claimed that they were looking for a “dangerous Naxalite”, allegedly sheltering at Kavita Srivastava’s house. It is reported that Kavita Srivastava was not present at the house at the time. The officers did not find any evidence of the alleged objective of the search.
Front Line believes that the police harassment of Kavita Srivastava is directly related to her legitimate work in the defence of human rights, particularly in her role in exposing the human rights violations of the Chhattisgarh State Government with regard to Muslim minorities and the poor.
Front Line urges the authorities in India to:
1.Immediately cease all further harassment of Kavita Srivastava and her family, as Front Line believes that the raid carried out at her home was solely carried out as a result of her legitimate work in defence of human rights;
2.Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Kavita Srivastava and her family members, as well as all other human rights defenders associated with PUCL;
3.Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in India are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all undue restrictions including police harassment.
Our National Working Secretary for AiNNI attended the 16th Conference of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions from September 4-6, 2011
- APF Guidelines for Accreditation & Re-Accreditation
- APF Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
- APF Delegate Information
- APF Sixteenth Annual Meeting and Biennial Conference of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
- APF Reimbursement Claim Form
- APF Annual Operations Plan 2011
- APF Annual Report 2009 – 2010
- APF Constitution
- APF Performance Review 1 July to 31 December 2010
- APF ICC Accreditation March 2011
- APF Members Guide
- APF Members Guide - Forum Councillors Meeting Fifteenth Annual Report
- APF Resource Database
- APF Strategic Plan2011 to 2015
- APF-UNDP-OHCHR Capacity Assessment Project
All India Seminar on Attack by the State on the Life and Personal liberty of its people, organized by PUCL. (Click Here to access)
(POSTING ON Free Binayak Sen Campaign Resist the Silent Emergency BLOG on MARCH 17, 2011)
(1) Economic support for Niyamat’s family: If you wish to make a donation to Niyamat’s wife Nuresa Bibi, you can send it to her bank account (details below).
(2) Bhukhan Singh, who was also targeted the same day, had to flee the village with his wife and children. Financial support is required for their sustenance and also for the children’s education. Donations can be sent to Bhukhan’s bank account (details below).
(3) You can come and spend a few days at the NREGA Sahayata Kendra in Manika with the Kendra team.
(4) You can organise a discussion about this issue in your area, school, college or organisation. Detailed information about Niyamat’s murder and its context are available at www.nrega.net.in
(5) If you knew Niyamat, consider writing about his life and work.
(6) You can send a complaint to some of the persons below, and a demand that the culprits should be arrested immediately:
DC Latehar, Rahul Kumar Purwar 9431138347 Email: rahulpurwar74@gmail.com
SP Latehar, Kuldeep Dwivedi 9431706262
Chief Secretary (Jharkhand), S.K. Choudhary (fax: 06512400255)
For further information, contact the NREGA Sahayata Kendra in Manika Email: nsk.manika@gmail.com James Herenj (9852910778), Shyama Singh (9905132431), Pachati Singh (8986851540)
BANK ACCOUNT DETAIL
(1) Nuresa Bibi
Account No. 31673654550
Name: Nuresa Bibi
State Bank of India, Manika
Branch Code: 3654
IFSC Code: SBIN0003654
(2) Bhukhan Singh
Account No. 11692376439
Name: Bhukhan Singh
State Bank of India, Manika
Branch Code: 3654
IFSC Code: SBIN0003654