ADVANCE QUESTIONS TO INDIA (FIRST BATCH)

SLOVENIA

Please provide information on envisaged or implemented monitoring mechanisms that oversee the implementation of laws dealing with sexual violence against women and children.

We welcome India's efforts to combat human trafficking, especially its commitment to better protect children and the implementation of training programmes for law enforcement officials and judges. Please provide further information on bilateral cooperation for prevention of human trafficking between countries, in particular the results thereof.

SWEDEN

What measures are being taken by the Government of India to ratify the ILO Conventions no. 138 and 182 concerning child labour?

Same-sex sexual relations are prohibited by the Indian Penal Code. Civil society organizations have reported discrimination of LGBT persons. What measures is the Government of India taking to ensure full equality before the law of all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity?

Safeguarding a woman’s right to exercise informed consent in making reproductive health decisions is fundamental to protecting her sexual and reproductive health and rights. Women have the right to access safe, effective, affordable and acceptable contraceptive methods of their choice. Echoing the requests made by several U.N. special procedures in their 2015 communication to India, what steps is the Government of India taking to prevent coercive, unsafe, and abusive sterilization and create greater accountability for these practices, including to ensure free and full consent prior to conducting the procedure and compliance with international and national standards?

SWITZERLAND

How does the Government of India ensure that anyone who faces the death penalty has access to a legal counsel of the defendant's choice during the entire trial?

While the process to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is under way, has the Government of India already implemented measures in order to adapt its national legislation accordingly?

The Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. What steps are being taken by the Government of India to hold accountable public and police officials found complicit in shielding criminals involved in intimidating and unleashing violence against minorities and those who advocate religious hatred?

Will the Government of India be willing to repeal its reservations regarding articles 5 (a) and 16 (1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women? If not, how does the Government of India ensure that these reservations do not impede the effective economic empowerment of women?

Indian Courts recognize the right to water and to sanitation as legally enforceable human rights. What steps are being taken by the Government of India to implement them at the national level?

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

What steps is the government of India taking to improve prison conditions in order to ensure the rights and dignity of all those deprived of their liberty?

What other steps could the government of India take to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to minority groups, as enshrined in India’s constitution?

What steps is the government of India taking to ensure swift adoption of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill?