New Delhi: Despite severe human rights violations observed and reported by UPR held in 2017, Modi government failed to address most of the recommendations made by the committee. Major findings/HRVs published in report are:-
Human Rights – Equality
- BJP govt needs to adopt legislation to criminalize hate speech and prevent communal violence, anti-discrimination law & policies.
- Despite abolishment of caste system, it is still in practice in India especially in rural areas.
Rights to life, liberty & security
- Security forces and police in India are engaged in extrajudicial killings or fake encounter killings and that the culture of extrajudicial killings is normalized in the country.
- Amnesty International (AI) reported that two-thirds of the prison population was in pretrial detention, with Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis being disproportionately represented.
Human Rights and Counter Terrorism. Rampant misuse of counterterrorism legislation to persecute human rights defenders, journalists and persons critical of the government.
Administration of justice, including impunity and the rule of law
- Mob violence or lynching by Hindu nationalist vigilante groups targeting minorities continued during the reporting period i.e. 2017 to 2022.
- Public officials openly advocated religious hatred and incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence against minorities.
Fundamental freedoms & right to participate in public and political life
- Human Rights Watch stated that people who protested or criticized the Government were frequently labeled “anti-national” and the authorities targeted them by bringing politically motivated criminal cases.
- Amnesty International (AI) reported that peaceful protesters had been charged with offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code, including for sedition, hurting religious sentiments, and hate speech.
Violence against women
- Amnesty International stated that discrimination and violence against women and girls remained pervasive.
- Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes woman consistently faces verbal abuse, physical assault, sexual harassment and assault, domestic violence and rape, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution.
Minorities
- Discrimination legislation and minority communities, particularly Muslims, Christian, Adivasis and Dalits.
Misuse of Citizen Amendment Act
- The Act is discriminatory and is based on national origin or religion and the Govt should amend the Act.
Jammu & Kashmir
Indian Armed Forces and police committed grave human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) with Impunity.
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