World

India must keep rights promises: Human Rights Watch

HRW says India has to tackle nationwide culture of impunity protecting troops, police and officials from prosecution.

Afp June 06, 2011

NEW DELHI: Human Rights Watch on Monday urged India to live up to its legal and moral commitments after becoming a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The New York-based lobby group said India must repeal special security laws in Indian Kashmir.

It also said the country had to tackle a nationwide culture of impunity that protects troops, police and public officials from prosecution, as well as improve rights for women and children.

India was one of 15 new members elected last month to the United Nations Human Rights Council, which is made up of 47 countries.

HRW said Indian laws prevent justice being done after "arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings by the police, paramilitary, and the army."

"India has made significant promises outlining its human rights record and commitments," said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at HRW. "Now it's time for India to keep those promises."

The group also called for "archaic" sedition laws to be scrapped, saying they were used to silence dissent and restrict freedom of expression.

COMMENTS (14)

DumbGuy | 13 years ago | Reply To all Pakistanis: Could you try one simple experiment: For an entire week avoid using name of any religion on the comments being posted on the ET and other sites, stop watching any TV shows that use the name of religion. Check many times you can see the name of any religion on Indian/USA/UK TV channels? Check many times you can see the name of any religion on Pakistan TV channels? Ask your self a question? Does Islam need you or Do you need Islam? Buy the end of this experiment, you can conclude if there is any hope for land of pure.

DumbGuy | 13 years ago | Reply UN recently added the internet access as human right. So from now on the poor nations that are struggling make the ends meet can be called as human right violators because they are not offering the internet :) :) It seems like poor nations are the ones that have more human right abuses. I mean, the human right abuses decrease as the nations become rich. Btw, why there are no industries or business in Kashmir (both in Pakistan and India)?

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

sam | 13 years ago | Reply @N.S: its not about comparison... if we have karokari indians have their Satis.. but its not about comparison......its about not trying to play holier than thou....this oneupmanship b/w india and pakistan is childish and pathetic...

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply Now why would ET publish these type of minor article?? Please don't try to sensationlise these type of stories, and if one wants too, than i suggest one starts at home !! There are plenty of situations where one can mention words, Basic rights, forget human rights in regards to Pakistan!!!! Those who live in glass houses should not really play with stones!!!!

sam | 13 years ago | Reply @Bambayya: more muslims die in kashmir than hindus every day... the way the indian militants supported by the indian estalishment is going.. soon the demographics of kashmir will be changed forever..with an ancient baseless cast system deeply embedded in the peoples beliefs and lives india has proven it has no concept of humanity...and lets not forget its intelligence agencies who train millitants to enter into pakistan and create havoc all the while pretending to be pakistani terrorists... india is forever looking for an excuse.. STOP USING PAKISTAN AS ONE!..yes we have our issues but quite frankly my dears.. you all just add to it!

N.S | 13 years ago | Reply What about human right violation in Balochistan and people killed due to target killing in Karachi and karo kari ,honer killing .

fahim | 13 years ago | Reply These human rights crap only shout at soft targets like India. Where are human rights when America is killing thousands in other countries, or china's brutal crackdown on Tibet and Fa Lung Gong or other freedom groups till today where through calculated moves Han chinese population is increased in Tibet and Xinjiang provinces, or for that matter in our own country backyard, which is run by carefree millitary?

Thinking | 13 years ago | Reply (Coming from an Indian) Indians should be quiet about saying there's nothing wrong going on in Kashmir. The Government of India has created many problems for itself. Kashmir's borders need to be protected and terrorists need to be eliminated but the people of Kashmir need to be able to live freely and create economic success for themselves. That will be the best thing that India can do for the people of Kashmir. Kashmir's politicians are extremely corrupt and only care about themselves - not the people they claim to represent. India has a lot of things going in the right direction and I hope that the ship can be turned on the Kashmir situation soon by reducing the security presence in the cities and focusing on preventing border incursions.

Bambayya | 13 years ago | Reply @Omar Haroon: Only if the Kashmir thinggyyy .. whatever u call it ... was not sponsored by Pakistani establishment .... so called moral support ... i dont think so many kashmiris wud have lost there lives ...Do u think that given the state of Pakistan now ... will anybody want to belive pakistan ??? Kahmir for Pakistan is just a real estate problem ... and not the people of Kashmir ...no wonder they instigate them under the name of religion ... just to be cannon fodder for Indian soilders .... and then u call it Human rights abuse .... what a hypocrate ....

ashwin | 13 years ago | Reply India is slowly starting to address the issue to some extent, but needs to do more.Are there no HR issues in Pakistan worth highlighting or has humanity died in Pakistan and suddenly all Pakistanis must have turned to Angels.We are only Human beings (Indians and the rest of the world).

Paras Vikmani | 13 years ago | Reply Obviously what wrongs we have committed ought to be addressed without bothering what other countries are doing

sundar | 13 years ago | Reply We are living in a dangerous neighbourhood with mass killers infiltrate across the border. Security forces need stringent laws to maintain law and order. Having said that I agree with HRW also. If we want ourselves as a civilized country, respected by the world we have to operate within the ambit of the law. We have to win the heart & mind and cannot/should not alienate the local people. We cannot go, present day Pakistani way.

Omar Haroon | 13 years ago | Reply @Bambayya: That still does not excuse what's going on in your own house. Personally, I have a bone to pick with the security establishment as well regarding the Baluchistan issue (among other things) but that's a topic that merits it's own discussion.

Bambayya | 13 years ago | Reply Ask them to go to Baluchistan first !!!...then to Vietnam ... Iraq... Combodia ... Sudan ... Saudi...the kist goes ON and ONNN ....

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

Entertainment

Jussie Smollett's conviction overturned by Illinois Supreme Court

Shaboozey calls out CMA Awards for microaggressions after record-breaking year

Shaboozey’s historic CMA Awards night was marred by microaggressions, sparking calls for respect and accountability.
Kneecap’s Móglaí Bap raises £30,000 for Gaza food aid with 10k daily runs

Kneecap’s Móglaí Bap raises £30,000 for Gaza food parcels by running 10k daily during their tour.
Angelina Jolie calls motherhood her greatest joy: 'Nothing else matters'

Angelina Jolie reflects on the joy of motherhood, sharing insights about her kids and her new movie, 'Maria.'
How to block Donald Trump from your digital life in his second term

Navigate Trump fatigue with these practical tips to block Trump-related content from your screens and stay stress-free