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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, has “deplored” India’s plan to deport Rohingyas “at a time of such violence against them in their own country.” He was equally “dismayed by a broader rise of intolerance towards religious and other minorities in India”. He was addressing the Human Rights Council on the opening day of its 36^th session on the human rights situation in 40 countries.

The current wave of violent, and often lethal, mob attacks against people under the pretext of protecting the lives of cows is alarming,” said al Hussein. “People who speak out for fundamental human rights are also threatened. Gauri Lankesh, a journalist who tirelessly addressed the corrosive effect of sectarianism and hatred, was assassinated last week. I have been heartened by the subsequent marches calling for protection of the right to freedom of expression, and by demonstrations in 12 cities to protest the lynchings”.

“Human rights defenders who work for the rights of India’s most vulnerable groups should be considered allies in building on India’s achievements to create a stronger and more inclusive society. Instead, many are subject to harassment and even criminal proceedings, or denied protection by the State” the High Commissioner.

Deploring the systematic attack on Rohingyas possibly amounting to crimes against humanity, the high commissioner said, “The Myanmar government should stop claiming that the Rohingyas are setting fire to their own homes and laying waste to their own villages. This complete denial of reality is doing great damage to the international standing of a government which, until recently, benefited from immense good will. I call on the government to end its current cruel military operation…”

The high commissioner expressed appreciation over the Bangladesh government’s “constructive engagement” with the office of the UN High Commissioner on Rohingyas who have sought refuge in Bangladesh.

On a more general note the high commissioner bemoaned the “hypocrisy” of States which “defend the rights of humans elsewhere… while at home they openly deny the rights of their own people?”

“Does it not occur to the many Governments who engage in intimidation and bullying, and commit reprisals against human rights defenders and NGOs which work with the UN human rights mechanisms – do they not realise that this only confirms to us, and to the world, how much oppression and injustice they exercise in their own countries? This is not a shared future; it is the theft of their peoples’ inalienable rights.”

The high commissioner urged the president and members states on the UN’s Human Rights Council “to develop a stronger, more unified voice in world affairs on behalf of human rights”.

“I also suggest consideration be given to the need to exclude from this body States involved in the most egregious violations of human rights,” he added.

Read the full text of the High Commissioner’s Opening Statement.
 

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Of the 112 countries, the first batch of questions that will be put are officially out and can be read here. India will have to respond to queries on its human rights record on religion-based discrimination, lawlessness when it comes to attacks on religious minorities stigmatisation of Dalits (a burning issue since the first review) and violence against them. The crushing of dissent and attacks on human rights defenders will be also a matter of concern. It will also be questioned on limits on free speech, limits on work of human rights defenders, attacks on religious minorities, reports of excessive use of force, including in Jammu & Kashmir, and use of AFSPA. Other issues on which it faces questions are combating violence against women, human trafficking, tackling harmful practices such as “honour killings“, early and forced marriages, violence against children and child labour.

India's second report had come in for heavy criticism by Human Rights Council troika ­­ comprising Latvia, the Philippines and South Africa that served as rapporteurs for India's review ­­ and stakeholders in the second review in 2012. At this week's session, India will spell out steps to implement the council's recommendations after the previous reviews which it committed to follow up, as well as highlight the many recent human rights developments in the country. While the 112 countries will be given 45 seconds to 1.5 minutes each, in an intense three-and half hour session, the Indian delegation led by attorney general Mukul Rohatgi will introduce the report prepared by the country and will have to answer questions from the member nations, civil society and the troika. India’s official report can be read here.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), created under the Paris Principles of the United Nations is also supposed to submit an independent assessment and report. This report can be read here.

The Working Group on Human Rights (WGHR), Advocates for Human Rights and Indian American Muslim Council among many organisations have submitted extensive reports and fac sheets on different aspects of the human rights situation. The live web cast of the session on May 4 can be viewed here.

The list of questions this time is longer than 2012. India will also be grilled on how it combats extreme poverty, inequalities in access to health services, high levels of neonatal mortality , stunting, malnutrition, underweight children and attendance of girls in schools. The factsheets prepared by the WGHR may be read here.

The Facsheets prepared by the WGHR are on the following subjects:

• Fact Sheet-01-Right to Adequate Housing
• Fact Sheet-02-Land Rights
• Fact Sheet-03-Right to Food
• Fact Sheet-04-Right to Health
• Fact Sheet-05-Right to Water and Sanitation
• Fact Sheet-06-Right to Education
• Fact Sheet-07-Impact of Trade and Investment Agreements
• Fact Sheet-08-Militarisation and Armed Conflict
• Fact Sheet-09-Torture and Enforced Disappearances
• Fact Sheet-10-Access to Justice
• Fact Sheet-11-Death Penalty
• Fact Sheet-12-Human Rights Defenders, Freedom
• Fact Sheet-13-Women
• Fact Sheet-14-Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
• Fact Sheet-15-Children
• Fact Sheet-16-Discrimination based on work and descent
• Fact Sheet-17-Tribals
• Fact Sheet-18-Persons with Disabilities
• Fact Sheet-19-Refugees and Asylum Seekers
• Fact Sheet-20-Religious Minorities
• Fact Sheet-21-Nomadic
• Fact Sheet-22-The Elderly
• Fact Sheet-23-Right to Inform
• Fact Sheet-24-Human Rights Education
• Fact Sheet-25-National Human Rights Institutions
• Fact Sheet-26-Collaboration with UN

 Related Articles:

1. http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-to-respond-to-the-worlds-perception-of-its-human-rights-record/298725
 

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