India Centers


India Centers

 

Known Centers based in India

If your center is not in this list and you want to be added, please contact HURIGHTS OSAKA and we will assist you.

 

 


 

 

 

Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR)

 

Year Established: 2003

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), established in March 2003, is dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Asian region.

 

Objectives

 

ACHR aims

  1. To provide accurate and timely information and complaints to the National Human Rights Institutions, the United Nations bodies and mechanisms as appropriate;
  2. To conduct investigation, research, campaigning and lobbying on country situations or individual cases;
  3. To increase the capacity of human rights defenders and civil society groups through relevant trainings on the use of national and international human rights procedures;
  4. To provide input into international standard-setting processes on human rights;
  5. To provide legal, political and practical advice according to the needs of human rights defenders and civil society groups;
  6. To secure the economic, social and cultural rights through rights-based approaches to development.

 

Activities

 

ACHR publishes reports, briefing papers, and a weekly review on a variety of human rights issues affecting many countries in Asia.

 

It also engages in campaigns (such as on refugee and custodial death issues), and issues articles on many human rights issues for media outlets within Asia and beyond.

 

 

Publications

 

Reports:

 

Briefing Papers:

 

Issues in 2012:

 

All these publications are available in the ACHR website.

 

Address

 

Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR)

C-3/441-C, Janakpuri, New Delhi110058 India

ph (9111) 25620583, 25503626

fax (9111) 25620583

e-mail: achr_review[a]achrweb.org

www.achrweb.org

 

 

 

Centre for Development and Human Rights

 

Year Established: 2002

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Centre for Development and Human Rights (CDHR) is a research organization based at New Delhi, registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI, 1860 (Registration No. S.38721 of 2002). CDHR is dedicated to bringing theoretical clarity to the concept of Right to Development (RTD) by integrating the academic disciplines of law, economics, international co-operation and philosophy.

 

Objective

 

The Centre aims to promote discussion and debate among academicians, scholars, policymakers and civil society and non-governmental organizations and bring about theoretical clarity to the issues of rights-based approaches to development and eradication of poverty and realization of related socio-economic rights such as the Right to Health, Right to Education and the Right to Food.

 

Programs

 

 

Activities

 

CDHR is involved in:

 

Research areas

 

1. Basic Rights and Right to Development

 

(i) Right to Food – researches on the assertion of right to food through judicial means (particularly through public interest litigation), participation of civil society actors (individuals, families, local communities or non-governmental organizations), and social mobilization (as seen in public hearings).

(ii) Right to Health – aims at securing the objectives of the universal right to health and healthcare as determined by the Universal Declaration and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) by researching on the legal bases in India for enforcing right to health.

(iii) Right to Education – analyzes the importance of basic rights in the improvement of the well-being of the people using the RTD framework (all basic pivotal rights such as the right to food, right to health, right to education or any economic and social rights, for that matter, are interdependent).

 

2. Poverty and Right to Development - stresses the underlying principle of RTD in designing the implementation of poverty alleviation schemes. This involves a substantial rethink of the existing methodologies for analysis of poverty by learning from the experiences of other countries and regions, and working with policy-makers and civil society organizations for a dialogue on poverty alleviation from the RTD perspective.

 

3. Theoretical Formulation of Right to Development - although RTD has evolved substantially since adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development, its nature, content and form remain a controversial issue till date. This activity aims to develop a comprehensive notion of human rights that are justiciable and enforceable, and their level of achievement measurable in terms of indicators.

 

4. International Legal Aspects of Right to Development – aims to address the numerous questions about the enforcement of RTD by examining these legal problems, and documenting evolution of RTD and its current status in international law. These questions cover the following: When is a ‘right to development’ claimed? What constitutes ‘development’? Who can claim this right, i.e., is it an individual right or a collective one? Who has the obligation to fulfill such a right? Is such right justiciable in law, i.e. are there definitive mechanisms to ensure the realization of such right? If this right is not justiciable, can it be enforced through other means? How is the realization of the right to be assessed? How will the realization of this right relate to other recognized human rights?

 

5. Development Co-operation and Right to Development – examines within the RTD framework the concept of development co-operation that introduces certain distinct characteristics aimed at reducing the stigma attached to development aid, moving from a traditional recipient-donor relationship to a mutually beneficial partnership. The RTD framework suggests a comprehensive package of development cooperation comprising measures such as trade and investments.

 

6. Trade and RTD – examines the important question on the distribution of the benefits of the process of trade liberalization among the various economic agents. The policies and programs of national governments and international organizations are critical factors in this regard. The policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are the most crucial factor because these provisions are binding on all the members. The WTO agreements, particularly the Agreement of Agriculture and the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights, have direct implications on the realization of the Right to Development in the developing countries.

 

Publications

 

 

 

Other Information

 

CDHR works with human rights groups such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan, Stree Sangam, Kalpavriksh, Communalism Combat and others.

 

Address

 

Centre for Development and Human Rights

100, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003 India

ph 91-11-24643170, 24643171, 24643172, 24643174

fax 91-11-24643170

e-mail : chairman[a]cdhr.org.in; arjunsengupta[a]vsnl.com

www.cdhr.org.in

 

 

 

Centre for Organisation, Research and Education (CORE)

 

Year Established: 1987

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE) was established on 24 March 1987 as an indigenous peoples' human rights and policy centre for India's Eastern Himalayan Territories. It is a registered non-profit society under the Manipur Societies Registration Act of 1860, with FCRA certification and Income Tax exemption. Since 2004, it is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

 

CORE adopted the following mission statement: To work towards recognition and respect for the right to a self-determined future in partnership with the Indigenous Peoples of the North Eastern Region of India, with respect for our ancient inheritance building on our faith in humanity's role of trusteeship of resources in peace with all other peoples.

 

Objectives

 

Core aims:

 

  1. To contribute to socially equitable, economically efficient and environmentally sound development through the application of Science, Technology and Management to the rational utilization of resources and information for increased human well-being and the conservation of the natural environment;
  2. To achieve satisfaction of basic human needs through widespread diffusion of appropriate technology and establishment of equitable exchange systems. This is undertaken by identifying local needs; selecting, generating, improving and adopting and developing appropriate technologies, and supporting the development of appropriate distribution and exchange systems particularly for the underprivileged in rural and urban areas with particular emphasis on regional levels of interventions and activities;
  3. To enable the conservation and management of the natural and “built” environment through ecologically and economically sustainable and energy conserving extraction, production, distribution and service systems;
  4. To promote and establish effective education, training, skill upgrade, documentation and information processing and dissemination program and facilities for school and non-formal education and artisan and professional training drawing on local culture or sub-culture-specific tradition, information and database, media and modalities and evolution of appropriate interface with other cultural, traditional, or modern media, technologies, policies or information systems;
  5. To establish and support community development and legal aid programs for specific problems and issues as needed or desired by specific sections or communities such as indigenous peoples/tribal, women, children, the economically deprived or other disadvantaged groups;
  6. To establish facilities for dissemination of information, including the development of materials (in the form of film, television and radio programs, theatre plays and art works), to mass media and for the public on culture, arts and crafts, development, science, technology, the environment or other materials or issues of interest and need for various audiences. by way of film, television, radio, theatre and the arts;
  7. To provide support services for the planning, development and management of local production, distribution, co-operative, government or voluntary institutions.
  8. To initiate the establishment of appropriate services for the specific health needs of youth, women and children who have survived torture in state detention and interrogation centers, by supporting them to identify their psychological and emotional trauma;
  9. To rapidly develop a manual for the training of trainers for support to torture survivors, using local, regional and international experiences as input;
  10. To improve the capacity of CORE to develop and monitor a special program addressing the particular needs of torture survivors;
  11. To sensitize, and initiate a training program for, health workers in the private and public health services, modern and traditional, on the contextual and technical aspects of supporting torture survivors;
  12. To initiate the systematic documentation of torture as practiced in Manipur and the specifics of individual cases to make the information useful in their legal support, as well as sensitization and advocacy work.

 

Programs

 

Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

 

CORE's human rights program attempts to comprehensively address all aspects including support to communities and survivors, documentation and monitoring, advocacy, training and networking. It mainly addresses issues such as torture, extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances and impunity in the area of civil and political rights. It views these issues from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples’ human rights in the context of racial, religious, political and ethnic discrimination and its impact on the strong caste and fundamentalist ethos of Indian polity.

 

Documentation Research and Resource Centre

 

The documentation work of CORE is a systematic process of collecting information from newspapers and magazines, with follow-up research on selected issues or events using internet sources and field verification. On human rights and fundamental freedoms, the documentation focuses on torture, extrajudicial executions and arrests with impunity. CORE also documents a spectrum of economic, cultural, developmental and social issues in the region. This is process has been going on over the last 15 years.

 

The CORE Resource Centre has been quietly and consistently acquiring education materials, books, information, reports, periodicals, journals, occasional papers and a range of gray literature for many years now. It now has a modest but unique collection of almost 4,000 books, 1,000 journals and 10,000 documents. Furthermore, its computer-resident (electronic) database includes a wide range of reference materials and literature acquired from resourceful websites like that of the United Nations Treaty Collection (Dag Hammarskold Library), United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights International, Derechos Humanos, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Physicians for Human Rights, the University of Minnesota Human Rights Library and others. This library is available CORE’s offices in Manipur and Assam.

 

Indigenous Children and Youth

 

Children and youth issues have as always been most rewarding and challenging areas of programming. In addition to the range of activities on the ground, including peer counseling and support services for traumatized children, children and young people who are active in the program have also taken up issues of rights violations of physically challenged children and youth as a special focus. CORE works with indigenous children to monitor the implementation of child rights and has twice submitted shadow reports to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child since 1996. It intensively advocated for the adoption of theme on indigenous children at the General Discussion Day of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which occurred in 2003. It also strongly advocated for its adoption as the main theme of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in its 2003 session. During the General Discussion Day, CORE also provided support to the Committee on the Rights of the Child with rapporteuring and translation assistance.

 

In cooperation of the International Child Rights Institute (USA), CORE regularly co-organizes the international workshop on indigenous children in Geneva, an event linked with the sessions of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations. It is a member of the State Level Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Government of Manipur.

 

Women's Leadership and Governance

 

The on-going and multi faceted erosion of indigenous women's rights in the region is a matter of grave concern. The violations are both individual and structural and frequently encompass high levels of violence as a modality of enforcing compliance with the violation. Additionally, violence against women is used as a strategy to subdue dissent and resistance from indigenous communities to which the women belong.

 

In the context of CORE of on-going and multi faceted erosion of indigenous women's rights in the region, CORE has taken a strong stand over the years in advocating for the strengthening and revival of traditional indigenous community structures and institutions which acknowledge and affirm indigenous women's status and role in society. CORE has also conducted considerable research on these issues and has integrated in all its research and advocacy a clear gender perspective.

 

Environment and sustainable development

 

CORE was the founder Secretariat till 2005 of the Citizens’ Concern on Dams and Development (CCDD), formed in 1999 to work on the issue of Dams and Development in Manipur. CCDD has more than forty community organizations and leaders as members.

 

Health

 

CORE co-chairs the Committee on Indigenous Health, an international committee of indigenous peoples organizations working at United Nations forums and platforms to advocate for Indigenous Peoples' rights to health. The Committee researches, compiles and presents submissions at appropriate United Nations conferences, meetings and other platforms. It provides secretariat and technical support to the Committee on Indigenous Health of the International Consultation on the Health of Indigenous Peoples collaboratively organized by the COIH (Committee on Indigenous Health) and the World Health Organisation in Geneva, November 1999.

 

CORE interfaces with the Federal and State governments in India, as well as with other governments, on issues relating to development, culture, biodiversity, children and armed conflict, community participation in management in rural water supply and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, and child rights.

 

It has offered its experience and expertise to UNICEF, WHO, ILO, UNESCO, UNDP, UNEP, World Bank and other regional agencies at international regional and national levels in their approach to indigenous peoples rights and concerns. It also participates in a number of United Nations conferences on racism, sustainable development, environment, poverty, and war and children.

 

Activities

 

CORE’s Community Program for Young Survivors of Torture has the following activities:

 

 

Special Concerns

 

The rights of indigenous peoples.

 

 

Address

 

Centre for Organisation, Research and Education (CORE)

Post Box No. 99

Gate No.2, Palace Compound

Imphal 795 001 Manipur, India

ph/fax (91385) 222 81 69

e-mail: info[a]coremanipur.in

 

 

 

 

Centre for Feminist Legal Research

 

Year Established: 1995

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Centre for Feminist Legal Research (New Delhi) works on issues of feminist legal theory, postcolonial theory, human rights and law. Its work has focused on four broad categories of rights:

 

Objectives

 

Our primary objectives are

 

 

 

 

 

 

Programs

 

Research/Internship

 

The Centre invites persons interested in legal research, postcolonial theory, feminist theory and subaltern studies, to submit research proposals to the institution. The Centre has sponsored many researchers over the years both as interns and as visitors. Library and Documentation.

 

Gender, Law and Sexuality Exchange

 

The Centre has an ongoing research exchange programme on the area of gender, law and sexuality, with the Keele Law School and Leeds University, U.K. The Indian researchers, selected by the Centre, spend four to six weeks at these British institutions, in order to carry out research and participate in the intellectual life of the host institution.

 

Sexuality, Rights and Post-colonial Exchange

 

The Centre focuses on analyzing how the epidemic impacts on the women's rights agenda, especially sexual speech and expression, as well as trying to influence the development of successful human rights intervention policies and programmes in this area.

 

Activities

 

 

Special Concerns

 

CFLR works on issues of Feminist Legal Theory,Postcolonial theory, human rights and Law

 

Publications

 

 

Other Information

 

CFLR encourages students, researchers and individuals to avail of its library facilities during the Centre's working hours.

 

Address

 

Centre for Feminist Legal Research

A-9A Friends Colony East

First Floor

New Delhi 110 065 India

ph (91 11) 41628118

ph/fax (91 11) 41629569

e-mail : cflr_45[a]yahoo.com

www.cflr.org

 

 

 

Centre for Promotion of Human Rights Teaching & Research (HURITER)

 

Year Established: 2004

 

Short Historical Background

 

As a part of the Programme of Human Rights Teaching & Research of the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, a Documentation-Information Centre for Human Rights Teaching & Research was set up on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--10 December 1983-- with the support of the University Grants Commission and within the framework of UNESCO Programme for Promotion of Human Rights Education,

 

The Documentation-Information Centre was inaugurated on 10 December 1983 by Hon'ble Judge Dr. Nagendra Singh, the then President of the International Court of Justice, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The proceedings were chaired by Mr. K. C. Pant, then Member of Parliament and representative of India to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Messages of good wishes were received from the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, as well as the then Minister of Education, Mrs. Sheila Kaul.

 

To take the first concrete step in the direction of introducing human rights teaching, it was deemed essential to arrange a framework for extensive discussion and intensive interaction among the representatives of various universities. Hence, the Vice Chancellors of various universities and heads of educational institutions in India as also some of the neighbouring countries were requested to name contact persons for exchange of experience and information.

 

Since February 1986, the Documentation-Information Centre has been put on the regular financial grants by the University Grants Commission.

 

Objectives

 

The primary objectives of the Centre for Promotion of Human Rights Teaching & Research (HURITER) are to promote interdisciplinary research and teaching in the field of human rights at all levels of education and to that end:

 

 

Programs and Activities

 

Teaching

As a first major step, the beginning was made by introducing an optional course entitled "Human Rights: Problems & Perspectives" in July 1984 at the School of International Studies, JNU (where teaching is at the post-graduate level) under the direction of Late Professor K.P. Saksena, the Founder Director of HURITER. Subsequently, this paved the way for introducing Human Rights and Duties education by a galaxy of universities and educational institutions. Since 1991, JNU provides an opportunity to M.A. students to study human rights through an optional course entitled "Human Rights and World Order".

 

Research

HURITER assists people in the formulation of human rights course curriculum, research proposals, dissertations, theses, etc. This service has helped in the introduction of human rights courses in several universities such as the University of Poona and the National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkotta. HURITER has a modest library, which is open for reference.

 

Documentation

HURITER has in its collection texts of the most important international laws on human rights, selected documents of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), summary records of international bodies such as the Human Rights Committee (HRC) and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

 

Dissemination of Information

One of the main purposes of HURITER is to assist scholars and teachers in obtaining information and source material needed for their work. Several requests are received for copies of the texts of international instruments, national laws, seminar proceedings, and other materials. It is HURITER's utmost effort to meet the increasing demand. However, because of staff shortage and lack of facilities, HURITER is selective in responding to the requests for supply of material.

 

Internships

HURITER offers internships to exceptionally brilliant students, research scholars, human rights activists, etc., who are interested in working on human rights issues. The facility is intended to increase human rights awareness and competence, particularly from the legal perspective to a broad spectrum of people. Applicants are free to choose the period of their internships, ranging from 1 month to 6 months.

 

Seminars/symposia

Several seminars/symposia have been organised under the auspices of HURITER. Some of them are:

 

 

Publications

 

 

 

Address

 

Centre For Promotion Of Human Rights Teaching & Research (HURITER)

Room No. 235, School of International Studies

Jawaharlal Nehru University

New Delhi 10067 India

ph (91-11) 26704338

fax (91-11) 26717592

e-mail: huriter[a]mail.jnu.ac.in

www.jnu.ac.in/huriter/huriter.htm

 

 

 

Documentation, Research and Training Centre (DRTC)

 

Year Established: 1993

 

Short historical background

 

The Documentation, Research and Training Centre (DRTC) was inaugurated on 13 November 1993 by Cardinal Simon Pimenta in Mumbai city, India to aid the Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Mumbai.

On 14 December 1997, at a symposium held to commemorate the fiftieth year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948), the Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Mumbai mandated the DRTC to set up a watch cell. This Human Rights Watch Cell (HRWC) was set up on 1 January 1998.

 

DRTC aims at creating a society in which the dignity of human beings is respected and their holistic growth encouraged, and in a special way caters to the marginalized. It employs the process of participation in self-development and empowerment. The focus however is the community and the transformation of society. For this reason, the DRTC also networks with community-based organizations and socially committed individuals who have a similar vision.

 

Objectives

 

DRTC aims

 

Programs

 

To realize its vision and objectives, DRTC implements the following programs:

 

Documentation and Publication -

This program serves individuals, communities and organizations with timely relevant and useful information, thus providing the basis for people's empowerment. Its resources, activities and services focus on the following areas - ecology, communication, development, education, judiciary and law, health, society, politics, religion, culture, human rights, etc. The resources are in English and a few in Hindi, Marathi and Tamil. A facility is maintained offering multi-media resource materials such as books, magazines, audio-video cassettes, slides, posters, journals, documents, reports, etc., to social action groups for training programs, meetings, seminars, symposia, exhibitions, etc.

 

Human Rights Watch Cell -

Specific objectives:

This program mobilizes victimized groups on a human rights issues and works towards appropriate changes in policy making and the law. It also prepares documentation, and conducting training and research on human rights issues.

 

Legal Aid Cell -

Specific objectives:

 

Training -

Specific objectives

 

Activities

 

Human Rights Cell Watch

 

 

Legal Aid Cell

 

Training

 

Training programs, seminars, workshops, symposiums related to organizing work in communities, law, human rights, documentation, research and other related topics in keeping with the aims of DRTC. These activities are undertaken either as part of the DRTC regular activities or upon request of communities in response to their specific needs.

 

Special concerns

 

Publications

 

Humanity Today (human rights magazine)

Understanding Human Rights

Preliminary Ideas in Human Rights

Indian Constitution and Fundamental Rights (in Hindi)

Hindu Laws (in Hindi).

 

Other information

 

Address

 

Documentation Research & Training Centre (DRTC)

Justice & Peace Commission

St. Pius College,

Aarey Road, Goregaon (E)

Mumbai 400 063 India

ph (91 22) 28756953

ph/fax (91 22) 28749023

e-mail: drtc[a]vsnl.com

http://jpc-drtcmumbai.org

 

 

Ekta Parishad


Year Established: 1991


Short Historical Background


Ekta Parishad evolved from a people’s organization in 1991 to a national body for articulating the disempowerment of people’s aspirations. The majority of the people in Ekta Parishad at the time of its inception, were tribals, who had been increasingly alienated from their lands because of constant displacement. They were also suffering due to being barred from entering adjacent forest areas, because of the 1980 Forest Conservation Act. This problem was aggravated with hijacking of water resources for the use of industries and large-scale agriculture. Without land, forest and water, people (and especially forest-dependent communities such as the adivasi groups) could not hope to survive on the land. This was the impetus that brought the groups into a larger social formation after 1991.


It sprouted in the state Madhya Pradesh but has also spread to the neighboring states of Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and now in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and North Eastern states also. Now it has a constituency of about 2 lakh (200,000) members. Prior to that, it had been a loose grouping of NGO training institutes that had created a large base of community development work. It first articulated the agenda of “people’s control over livelihood resources.”

 

Ekta Parishad has been involved in building ‘indigenous leadership’ to propel the empowerment process among the dalits and adivasis of the state. It has roots in the need to give a united voice to a fragmented struggle being waged across the country in general and Madhya Pradesh in particular for the livelihood rights of the deprived and the dispossessed. It is an organization that helps people articulate rights over the natural resources of livelihood such as land, water and forest.


It initiated the first padyatra (foot-march) during the 1999-2000 period, whose success led to the other foot marches in other states. But to have impact, Ekta Parishad organized a national level foot march named Janadesh that obtained quick response from the government. It was one of the largest non-violent actions in human history. The success of this march was followed by an international march on the 2 October 2012 called Jan Satyagraha (“People’s March for Justice”) when 100,000 people walked from Gwalior (in Madhya Pradesh state) to Delhi, and different actions were organized in sixty countries around the world. Through all of this, the main work of Ekta Parishad has emerged: the mobilization of people. This is critical for any kind of social reform.

 

Objectives


Ekta Parishad aims to reduce the poverty of poor, rural landless and tribal communities by enabling them to gain access and ownership over land.


Programs

 


Activities


Ekta Parishad undertakes the following activities:


Special Concerns


Ekta Parishad has special concern for the right to control over land and livelihood by villagers.

 

Publications


Ekta Parishad prepares case studies, media statements, videos, reports and books on non-violence, rural economy and land reform.
Books
English

 

 

Videos

 

Apart from this, many short video clips are available on  www.youtube.com/ektaparishad


Other Information

 

In 1999-2000, the first padyatra (foot-march), which traveled from western to eastern Madhya Pradesh (before the partition of Chhattisgarh), was organized. During this padyatra, Ekta Parishad discovered that “walking” was an enabling tool: One that allowed the marginalized people to participate readily and with dignity, since it only demanded their physical prowess and not funds or political patronage. The foot-march, like Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha of 1931, was also a way for people to highlight their rights and become visible by attracting the attention of the media, policy-makers and the general public.

 

Following that first foot-march, hundreds of marches took place in different states of India on various issues. However, they did not have the desired societal impact. It was then decided to hold a march on a national level in October 2007, in the Declared Year of Non-Violence. It started on the United Nations Day of Non-Violence, October 2nd, which is the birth date of Mahatma Gandhi. The march was named “Janadesh”, which means “People’s Verdict”. A total of 25,000 people came together in Gwalior, a city about 350 kilometers south of the capital Delhi. For one month the landless poor, tribals, poor women, bonded laborers, children and old people walked along the national highway, attracting the attention of people from all walks of life. After the arrival in Delhi, the government reacted swiftly and promised to meet their demands.


Address

 

Ekta Parishad
National Office
Gandhi Bhawan
Shyamla Hills, Bhopal 
Madhya Pradesh 462002 India
ph (91-755) 4223821
fax (91-755) 4223821
e-mail: info[a]ektaparishad.com
www.ektaparishad.com

 

 

 

Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation (HRF)

 

Year Established: 1993

Short Historical Background

Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation (HRF) is a human rights institution working for the promotion and protection of human rights.  Established in 1993, it seeks to strengthen the ongoing work of human rights organisations and assist in networking for building a strong human rights movement. The core of our work is in functioning as a resource-cum-research organisation disseminating information, initiating and building campaigns and engaging in advocacy.


Objectives

HRF aims to


Programmes

All programmes of HRF are meant to enable the ‘Voices of Struggle’ to be heard, to be articulated in the language of law and policy. The programmes represent the voices of the marginalized and exploited peoples, especially those of children and women, and support their day-to-day resistance. They cover the resistance movements of the working classes (especially the unorganized workers), the social and political struggles of Dalits, the campaigns to protect the land and forest rights of the Adivasis (indigenous and tribal people), the struggle of the fishing people for control over their homeland, ocean resources and coastal ecology, the land and livelihood struggles of the urban poor, the movement to protect land and traditional agricultural practices of small and marginal farmers and other socially excluded, the campaign to support the stigmatized and/or invisibilized sections such as LGBTQIA, particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) and people with disabilities (PWD).

HRF uses all democratic means and legal spaces, working the system for systemic change. The six components of its success are the following:
(a) Work with all parts of the system for systemic change. The focussed, system-wide engagement that is both intensive and extensive, encompassing vertical and horizontal integration of all stakeholders is a skill we have built up over the years;
(b) Enable the rights-holders themselves to demand, secure and monitor the fulfilment of their rights. The unique strategy of HRF is building evidence from the community and advocacy with state and national governments;
(c) Litigate for total implementation of the laws using representative cases and escalating it to public interest litigation (PIL) for systems change. HRF with its human rights focus and strategies to address violations does not hesitate to litigate;
(d) Initiating and nurturing large civil society coalitions (NGOs, community networks and civil society forums) that enable us to ‘be everywhere do everything’. The larger collective at state level and networking at the national level provide HRF the capability to magnify influence and multiply impact;
(e)    Defend the defenders. The attacks on human rights defenders as a way to still all voices of peace and justice is a chilling reality. HRF provides support to defend the defenders so that the human rights movement goes forward and active citizens can continue their watchdog function;
(f)    Maintaining the highest standards of stewardship. HRF practices the highest fiduciary standards and best practices in management to optimise the use of resources and maximise sustainable impact.

Campaigns and initiatives HRF is involved in


The Human Rights and Advocacy Institute

The Human Rights and Advocacy Institute is an initiative of a group of human rights organisations and defenders, anchored by HRF, to create a high quality knowledge institution on human rights theory, practice and governance. It is meant to bridge the distance between human rights defenders (practice), academe (theory), administrators (duty-bearers), and citizens (rights-holders). It addresses the need for systematic transformation of experience and expertise, especially those derived from practitioners’ (field) experience into transferable knowledge with academic rigor. The Institute has prepared basic and advanced courses and training programmes on the following topics: child rights, women’s rights, labour rights, human rights, panchayat presidents, and social media for social transformation.

Some of our courses are:



Publications

Human Rights


Child rights


 Women’s rights


Dalit and Adivasi Rights


Custodial justice


Coastal action


Local government


Water


Right to information / transparency


WTO and others


Address

 

Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation (HRF)

No.10/60, Balaji Nagar, First Main Road, Ekkattuthangal,

Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600 032, INDIA

ph 91(44) 2225 1304

e-mail: contact[a]hrf.net.in

website: hrf.net.in

facebook: HRFnet

twitter: hrfnet

 

 

Human Rights Law Network (HRLN)

 

Year Established: 1989

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) is a collective of lawyers and social activists dedicated to the use of the legal system to advance human rights, struggle against violations, and ensure access to justice for all. A not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, HRLN defines rights to include civil and political rights as well as economic, social, cultural and environmental rights. It believes that human rights are universal and indivisible, and their realization is an immediate goal.

 

Starting in 1989 as an informal group of lawyers and social activists, HRLN has evolved into a human rights organization with an active presence in many states of India.

 

Objectives

 

HRLN aims

  1. To protect fundamental human rights, increase access to basic resources for marginalized communities, and eliminate discrimination;
  2. To create a justice delivery system that is accessible, accountable, transparent, efficient and affordable, and works for the underprivileged;
  3.  To raise the level of pro bono legal expertise for the poor to make the work uniformly competent as well as compassionate;
  4. To equip through professional training a new generation of public interest lawyers and paralegals who are comfortable both in the world of law as well as in social movements, and who learn from the social movements to refine legal concepts and strategies;
  5. To work towards an increased awareness of rights as universal and indivisible, and their realization as an immediate goal.

 

Programs and Activities

 

Legal Aid and Public Interest Litigation - quick response and pro bono expertise provided to those who have little or no access to the justice system.

 

Legal Education - continuous campaigns to broad constituencies for better understanding about the law and the judicial system through different channels in the variety of Indian languages, and through materials that are focused on target audiences.

 

Advocacy - in courts, in the media, and in various public and legislative forums, HRLN is a strong advocate for laws and policies that promote and defend human rights. An important part of HRLN's work involves advocacy against legislation and policies that undermine human rights. This includes working to increase public awareness through research and dissemination of accurate information on violations and anti-poor policies.

 

Communication and Publications - HRLN publishes 'know your rights' material including books, reports and posters to simplify and make accessible important developments in human rights and law in India. Films on themes of import are made to promote debate and discussion, and to mobilize opinion around the campaign for human rights. The posters compile legal information around an issue and present it in a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand style for a mass audience.

 

Publications

 

Magazine

 

Books

 

Films

 

Other Information

 

Human rights groups such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan, Stree Sangam, Kalpavriksh, Communalism Combat, CED and others who focus on specific issues to collaborate with the Centre in documenting these issues.

 

Address

 

Human Rights Law Network

576, Masjid Road , Jungpura

New Delhi 110 014 India

ph (91-11) 24374501, 24376922

fax (91-11) 24374502

e-mail: contact[a]hrln.org

http://hrln.org

 

 

 

Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS)

 

Year Established: 2002

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization. It was founded in 2003 by civil society activists and academicians working to understand the problems of excluded groups, identify the causes of their marginalization and suggest policies for their empowerment. Since its inception the Institute has carried out extensive research on the development concerns of marginalized sections of Indian society, completing over 70 major research projects till date, publishing over 15 books, 50 working papers, publications in national and international journals based on IIDS research. The Institute has been recognized as the ‘Centre for Excellence’ by United Kingdom’s the Economic and Social Research Council. It has also been awarded a prestigious Think Tank Initiative (TTI) Grant by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.

 

Objectives

 

IIDS aims to help develop ‘inclusive society’ with equal right and entitlement to excluded and discriminated groups. To this end the Institute aims to develop insight on various dimensions of social exclusion in the Indian society through research on:

 

Programs and Activities

 

IIDS undertakes research on the following:

 

Special Concerns

 

Publications

 

Books

 

Address

 

Indian Institute of Dalit Studies,

R-39, South Extension Part II,

New Delhi 110 049 India

ph (91-11) 46013955, 54

fax (91-11) 51643982

e-mail: info[a]dalitstudies.org.in

www.dalitstudies.org.in

 

 

Indian Social Institute - Bangalore

 

Year Established: 1963

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Indian Social Institute (ISI), Bangalore is a national centre with special focus on the four states in South India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The institute is committed to work for the emergence of democratic, egalitarian, secular, cultural-pluralist society. Consequently, the institute focuses its attention on socio-economic and politico-cultural issues related to the poor in general and the Dalits, tribals, women, unorganized workers and children in particular. Began as a sister organization of ISI-Delhi, in 1993 it became an independent institution.

 

Objectives

 

ISI Bangalore aims to

 

Programs

 

Training

Training is one of the major activities of the institute The various units, namely, the training, Human Rights, Women’s and Outreach are engaged in variety of training programmes.

 

 

 

 

Training & Human Rights

 

ISI-Bangalore deals with a wide spectrum of issues of rights viz Dalit rights, tribal rights, minority rights, women's rights, child rights, etc. and has always responded to the violations of rights of these communities.

Its fieldwork involves human rights trainings, seminars, education in schools and colleges, fact-finding missions, lobbying, advocacy and public protests.

 

Women's Unit

 

The Women's Unit aims at empowering women through training, capacity building, advocacy, etc.

 

Outreach

 

The Institute has four outreach units extending service to four southern states of India. Programmess are organized for grassroots social activists and leaders of marginalized groups like dalits and tribals in collaboration with people's organizations and movements and NGO networks.

 

Research

 

The Institute carries out action research to generate awareness among the general public and the decision makers and to come up with alternatives. ISI-Bangalore in collaboration with like minded groups has so far conducted the following research studies in the recent past:

 

  1. 1. Paradigm shift in development Co-operation
  2.  Land to Dalits
  3.  Rights to Tribal Girls Education
  4. Development - Induced Displacement case of Kerala
  5. Impact of Globalisation on the Tribals in Kerala.

 

Activities

 

Though ISI-Bangalore pays special attention to the four southern states in India it has positively responded to international collaborations and initiatives.

 

Publications

 

ISI publishes on its own and also facilitates publication of resource materials which can be used by grassroots people and NGOs

 

 

Other Information

 

Library & Documentation

 

The library with about 10,000 books on specialized themes, 65 journals, 15 News Papers and 400 documentary collections are used by activists and academicians.

 

Address

 

Indian Social Institute - Bangalore

24 Benson Road, Bangalore  560 046 India

ph (91-80) 23536189/23536960

fax (91-80) 23537700

email: isiblr[a]yahoo.co.in

www.isibangalore.com/

 

 

 

Indian Social Institute - Delhi

 

Year Established: 1951

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Indian Social Institute, New Delhi was established in 1951 in response to the challenges of nation-building and a new emerging social order in an independent India. Its vision, mission, goals and objectives evolved during the last fifty years in response to the changing situation in the country, and in the spirit of a learning organization.

 

In 1980, the Institute committed itself to strengthening of people's movements particularly those of the scheduled castes/dalits, tribals/indigenous peoples and other marginalized communities, and joining them in their causes. The Institute operates in the context of huge and dramatic changes taking place in the country influenced by internal and external forces and factors, theories and practices, acts of commission and omission by the government, markets and civil society.

 

 

Programs
    
Action Research - this program brings activists and academics in a synergistic effort of researching on socio-economic development and human rights.
    
Trainings, Workshops and Seminars - these are important instruments of exchange and dissemination of knowledge and experience in the empowerment process of various communities and civil society at large. •    
Documentation - the Institute gathers and disseminates information and data through documentation pertaining especially to the priority communities.

Publication - information and knowledge are made available through publications in the form of journals and books at affordable cost especially for the non-profit sector and civil society organizations committed to human rights, socio-economic development, gender equality and environmental sustainability.
    
Networking - the Institute is a core member of many networks of civil society groups and organizations within and outside the country. •     Advocacy - all efforts and activities of the Institute are influenced and shaped by the primary objective of advocating the cause of the poor, the marginalized, the exploited and the excluded at all levels.


Activities
    
The Women’s unit works as a center for research, training and action for the socio-economic and cultural development of women of Indian society. It highlights contemporary issues related to gender equity the empowerment of women in its publication of the quarterly, Women’s link. In addition, the Unit organized workshops in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to promote leadership skills among women.

The Rural Development unit studies the socio-economic problems of people living in rural areas and the empowerment of marginalized sections, including dalits, tribals, women, minorities and other classes. The Unit has been engaged in research projects on migration in four States in India and on the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The Dalit Unit engages in research and advocacy on the struggle of people belonging to Scheduled Castes, also known as Dalits, for socio-economic and political empowerment. The Unit provides a platform for authors of marginalized sections of society to creatively express themselves in its monthly publication in Hindi aptly named, Hashiye ki Awaz. Besides, the Unit is engaged in a research project on the implementation of Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan in Puducherry and Delhi.

The Tribal unit works on issues confronting the rights and wellbeing of tribal commu nities across the country. The research activities aim to promote the identity and self-dignity of these indigenous tribes who are marginalized and exploited in India. The Unit also holds seminars, workshops and training programs on tribal issues.

The Human rights and law Unit engages in research, training, networking and advocacy on issues related to human rights of all citizens of India, particularly the marginalized sections of society. The Unit disseminates knowledge of various laws and their legal implications to the common man in their quarterly publication, legal News and Views, which celebrated its silver jubilee this year. The Unit also conducts para-legal training courses and leadership Training and legal Awareness Camps in different parts of Delhi. Training courses on research methodology and rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minorities are also held.


Publications



Regular publications


Information on other publications of the Institute is available at www.isidelhi.org.in.

 

Other Information

 

The Indian Social Institute Library specializes in the field of Social Science and its collection of resources takes into consideration the training course content and research needs of the Institute. The Library aims to build its collection on the focus areas of the Institute: Tribals, Scheduled Caste, Backward Caste, Dalits, Socio-Political, Labour, Women’s, Gender Issue, Agriculture, Governance, Panchayati Raj, Ecology, Environment, Industries, Socio Political Movements, Development, Displacement and Rehabilitation, Economy, Poverty, Human Rights, Law and Education. With computerized system, the use of the Library has been made easy for visitors.

 

Address

 

Indian Social Institute - Delhi

10- Institutional Area, Lodi Road

New Delhi 110003 India

ph (9111) 24622379, 24625015, 24694602 & 24611745

fax (9111) 24690660
e-mail: isi[a]isidelhi.org.in; edoffice[a]isidelhi.org.in

www.isidelhi.org.in

 

 

 

Navsarjan

 

Year Established: 1988

 

Short Historical Background

 

Established in December 1988, Navsarjan started functioning as an organization in 1989. Its primary focus has always been Dalits, which largely includes people previously known as ‘untouchables’—the most exploited class of Indian society. As time passes, however, and trust on Navsarjan grows, other communities and castes have been approaching Navsarjan for legal assistance, as well.

 

The organization has its roots in the 1970s when the founding member of Navsarjan, Martin Macwan, was involved in a sustained effort to establish a consciousness within the Dalit community to fight social and economic exploitation. The educational process led the community to assert their land rights and question their unequal and unjust social relationships.

 

Objective

 

Navsarjan aims to eliminate discrimination based on untouchability practices; ensure equality of status and opportunities for all, regardless of caste, class or gender; and ensure the rule of law.

 

 

Programs and Activities

 

 

Address

 

Navsarjan

2 Ruchit Apartments,
Behind Dharnidhar Derasar,
Dr CV Raman Marg,
Godavari Nagar Road,
Opposite Gurushikhar Society,
Vasna, Ahmedabad 

Gujarat 380 007 India

ph (91-2717) 325937/324323

fax 91-2717) 287308

e-mail: info[a]navsarjan.org; navsarjan[a]satyam.net.in; navsarjan[a]iqara.net; Navsarjan[a]wilnetonline.net

www.navsarjan.org/home.asp

 

 

 

Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution

 

Year Established: 2004

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution was launched in 2004, and was one of the first centres for peace and conflict studies to be established at an Indian university. It aims to fill a strange gap in Indian academic life - the lack of serious and purposeful analysis of types and sources of conflict, and the methods of dealing with them that India has adopted, from constitutional to human rights and minority protections, at domestic, regional and international levels. There is a wealth of Indian literature on war-making and peace settlements through the ages that we aim to collate and analyze from a doctrinal point of view.

 

Objectives

 

 

Programs

 

The MA in Conflict Analysis and Peace-Building is a comprehensive course focusing on the policies, practices and tools required to contain, manage or resolve contemporary conflicts and prevent them from recurring.

Core aims of the Course are to equip students with the analytical and field skills to engage in peacemaking and peace-building on the ground, both at home and abroad; and to bring Indian traditions of conflict resolution into the mainstream of peace studies.

The Centre has scholars enrolled for the Ph. D. program in Peace and Conflict Studies.

The NMCPCR Visiting Professors' program has brought experts from varied backgrounds to the Centre, from academics to activists and journalists, who have spent from two to twelve months with us, and have contributed to the activities of the Centre in multifarious ways - designing and teaching courses, writing occasional papers, helping in the organization of conferences, and as resource persons in conferences organized by the Centre.

 

Activities

 

1. Workshop Chhattisgarh: Development, the Naxalite Movement and Salwa Judum, January 19-20, 2007

2. Workshop Manipur: Movements, Conflict and Possible Resolutions, November 17-18, 2006.

3. South Asia Regional Expert Meeting on Human Rights, Freedom of Expression and Terrorism, April 10-11, 2006. Contributing to the work of the United Nations Working Group on Terrorism, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva

Sponsored by the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS), Geneva.

4. International Conference Kashmir after the Quake - Prospects for Peace and Reconstruction, January 16-17, 2006

5. South Asia Workshop on Human Rights Education in Schools, December 13-15, 2005 (Collaboration with HURIGHTS OSAKA).

6. National Seminar Media Perspectives on Human Rights, March 29-30, 2005

7. National Conference Social Conflicts, Civil Society and Peacekeeping, September 22-23, 2004 (Collaboration with the United States Educational Foundation in India and AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia).

8. Panel Discussion Peace and Conflict in South Asia, March 16, 2005 (Collaboration with Academy of Third World Studies, JMI)

The NMCPCR tries to arrange for Internships for its students as part of the Post Graduate Diploma in Conflict Analysis and Peace Building. Thus far we have arranged internships at the National Human Rights Commission and the Right to Information Commission, as well as at the Delhi Policy Group. The NMCPCR also hosts interns.

In August 2005, the NMCPCR and the Delhi Policy Group's Peace Processes Program launched a joint series of student workshops on comparative peace processes. The workshops are built on simulations of ongoing or completed peace negotiation, such as the Good Friday Agreement for Northern Ireland and the Dayton Agreement for Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as abstract cases of potential crisis negotiations, such as on looming humanitarian disasters; the simulations are to be published in 2008 (Radha Kumar (ed), Negotiating Peace in Deeply Divided Societies: A Set of Simulations, Sage (forthcoming).

 

Special Concerns

 

 

Publications

 

NMCPCR Publications:

For NMCPCR Faculty publications please see the Centre's webpage on the Jamia website, www.jmi.nic.in

 

Other Information

 

The Centre organized a number of Public Lectures by leading Human Rights figures:

 

Address

 

Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi  110025 India

ph/fax (91-11) 26985473

ph (91-11) 26981717 ext. 4360

e-mail: centreforpeace[a]rediffmail.com

http://jmi.nic.in/cpcr/cpcr.htm

 

 

 

PRASHANT (A Centre for Human Rights Justice and Peace)

 

Year Established: 2001

 

Short Historical Background

 

""PRASHANT", (A Center for Human Rights, Justice and Peace) was founded as an initiative of the Gujarat Education Society (GES) on 2nd October 2001 (the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi). GES is a Registered Trust and Society, which belongs to the Jesuits of Gujarat and caters to the all round development and growth of marginalized communities specially the adivasis (indigenous people/tribals), the dalits (oppressed castes of India) and the minorities (like the Muslims, Christians).

 

"PRASHANT" was begun as a felt-need to respond to the growing human rights violations in the State of Gujarat and in other parts of India, and the need to ensure that justice and peace are integral parts of civil society.

 

The realization of the vision of "PRASHANT" is sought to be achieved through

• promotion of Human Rights, Justice and Peace.

• taking sides with the poor and other marginalized groups with a focus on tribals, dalits, minorities, women and children.

• emphasizing an integral approach to social development.

 

Objective

 

"PRASHANT" aims to promote "HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL" – with special reference to the poor and the vulnerable - and a society where truth, justice, equity and peace flourish.

 

Programs and Activities

 

Training: Human Rights and Peace Education for children and teachers; training on Local Capacities for Peace; trainings on various aspects of the Indian Constitution and Government policies like the Right to Information, Food security, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, etc.

 

Advocacy: Taking up social concerns with the Government, international organizations, world Governments and civil society at large.

 

Seminars, workshops, street-plays: regularly organized on topical issues, highlighting human rights violations which exist in society, in order to conscientize people.

 

Information dissemination: through posters, leaflets, the internet, booklets, public meetings, demonstrations, audio/video cassettes

 

Documentation: The Centre maintains an elaborate Documentation Centre with newspaper clippings from twenty-two major local and national dailies (in English and in the vernacular languages), and about three hundred magazines/periodicals received on a regular basis, photos, video-recordings, etc. form part of the Documentation.

 

Legal aid: A team of lawyers provide legal counsel to those whose rights are violated; besides, legal matters in the High Court / Supreme Court are taken up / supported.

 

Media advocacy: There is a consistent interaction with the media to highlight some of the major ills that plague society. This is done through regular press releases / conferences and also by providing the media with appropriate documentation / data for their stories / features.

 

Research: some research activities are also undertaken - the main one being the one on the Social Science Textbooks published by the Gujarat State School Textbook Board in order to highlight the prejudicial nature in which education is imparted in Gujarat.

 

 

Special Concerns

 

Human rights, justice and peace.

 

Publications

 

PRAJAL - newsletter (occasional/periodical)

Regular pamphlets

 

Other Information

 

PRASHANT works in tandem with several other human rights activists/groups, locally, nationally and internationally.

 

Address

 

PRASHANT (A Centre for Human Rights Justice and Peace)

Hill Nagar, Near Kamdhenu Hall, Drive-in Road

Ahmedabad 380052

Gujarat, India

ph (9179) 27455913, 66522333

fax (9179) 27489018
e-mail : sjprashant[a]gmail.com

www.humanrightsindia.in

 

Postal address :

P B 4050, Navrangpura PO

Ahmedabad 

Gujarat 380 009 India

 

 

 

People’s Watch


Year Established: 1995


Short Historical Background


For over 17 years, People’s Watch, a program unit of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC), has fought for the protection and promotion of human rights in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. People’s Watch, previously known as “People’s Watch - Tamil Nadu,” has it broadened its focus to activities beyond the state of Tamilnadu and expanded its activities beyond human rights monitoring and reporting. Today, it pursues a holistic approach to championing human rights by pursuing legal remedies on behalf of victims, sheltering victims in a rehabilitation center, teaching future generations through a human rights curriculum, and building the Citizen’s Human Rights Movement – ALL RIGHTS for ALL PEOPLES.

 

Objective


People’s Watch aims

  1. To protect human rights through monitoring human rights violations, intervention and building solidarity with peoples’ struggle for human rights;
  2. 2. To promote human rights culture through education and conscientization of the larger community.


Programs and Activities

 


Publications

 


Address
People’s Watch
No. 6, Vallabhai Road,
Chokkikulam,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu  625002 India
ph (91-452) 2539520)
fax (91-452) 2531874)
e-mail: info[a]pwtn.org; henri[a]pwtn.org
www.peopleswatch.org

 

 

 

 

SAKSHI Human Rights Watch - AP

 

Year Established: 1999

 

Short Historical Background

 

Human Rights Watch - AP (SAKSHI) emerged from the process of interventions on the issues of the Dalits in Andhra Pradesh in India. A group of activists , academicians, and advocates involved in Dalits issues over the past two decades, who felt the need to be involved in human rights from a Dalit perspective, came together to form SAKSHI - Human Rights Watch A.P in 1999. SAKSHI is an attempt to profile and highlight Dalit issues as a fundamental issue of human rights that should be addressed.

 

Objective

 

SAKSHI aims to facilitate the creation of a society where Dalits Bahujan women, men, children and communities enjoy dignity, liberty, security and equal opportunities.

 

Programs and Activities

 

SAKSHI employs the following strategies:

  1. Collaborate with and support existing Dalit Bahujan movements and initiatives; raising consciousness; monitoring Dalit Bahujan human rights violations; informing and sensitizing the civil society; and encouraging a supportive and pro-active environment for the affirmation and defense of Dalit Bahujan civil, political, social cultural and economic rights;
  2. Pressure the state and other statutory bodies to take adequate organizational and institutional measures to bring Dalit Rights under the purview of human rights and to protect them;
  3. Enhance the visibility of Dalit Bahujan human rights in all spheres;
  4. Pro-active interventions within the Dalit Bahujan communities to promote gender equity, child rights and the recognition of equal rights amongst all caste identities.

 

SAKSHI engages in the following programs and activities:

 

1) Documentation

- Collection of materials on identified areas, especially with regard to Dalits, and data on violations of Dalit Bahujan human rights in the State of Andhra Pradesh from various sources.

- Fact-finding reports to give feed back to the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), movements and groups through monthly newsletter and reports and to make submissions to various national and international

- Publish periodic Fact Sheets for purpose of advocacy and lobbying

 

2) Monitoring

- Visiting the places where violations have taken place by forming and facilitating fact-finding teams and collecting first-hand information and disseminating the facts gathered to the general public through the media.

- Providing material support on legal aspects and following-up on the case by involving all concerned people and officials through lobbying.

- Representing all statutory bodies such as National Human Rights Commission, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes National Commission, Women's Commission, etc.

- Reports on Dalit Bahujan human rights violations

- Judgments (need explanation)

-Analysis (need explanation)

 

3) Study & Advocacy

- Assessing new areas of Dalit Bahujan human rights violations in order to bring them to the awareness of NGOs, Dalit human rights activists and movements and enable them to make necessary interventions at policy level.

- Studying the socio-economic, political and cultural dynamics of the society in general and of Dalits in particular in order to shape and influence grassroots movements.

 

4) Advocacy

- Interfacing with statutory and civil bodies at all levels for the defense and promotion of Dalit Bahujan human rights

- Facilitating and strengthening a collective of human rights organizations to lobby at national and international levels.

 

5) Training

- Conducting regional-level trainings on human rights skills such as monitoring, advocacy and intervention for human rights activists, advocates, NGOs, movements, etc.

- Preparing Training Modules and Training materials

- Conducting seminars and workshops in collaboration with universities and institutes to sensitize the academia, on Dalit Bahujan human rights issues .

 

 

Address

 

SAKSHI Human Rights Watch - AP

H.No 10-3-129,IInd floor

Dhana Laxmi General Store,

Teachers Colony

Street No – 4, Lane No-3

East Marredpally , Secundera

Andhra Pradesh 500 026 India

ph (91-40)-55440969

fax (91-40) 27737086

e-mail: sakshi_ap[a]satyam.net.in

 

 

 

 

Shubhodaya Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and Violence - SOSRAC (Society for Social Research, Art and Culture) (SCRVTV)

 

Year Established: 2000

 

Short Historical Background

 

Established in February 2000, the Center was initiated to help victims of torture and violence. This is the only Center in Delhi with specific aim of helping and rehabilitating victims of torture and violence.

 

Objectives

 

The Center aims

  1.  To provide comprehensive rehabilitation to torture victims and secondary victims of torture;
  2. To provide psychological services for proper psychological rehabilitation;
  3. To provide physiotherapy and occupational therapy services for the proper physical rehabilitation of torture victims;
  4. To create awareness among people working for law enforcement agencies on human rights and sensitize them to the problems of detainees;
  5.  To strengthen non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in the field of human rights by providing technical assistance against torture;
  6. To sensitize and create awareness among NGOs and the general public of the problems of victims of torture and violence;
  7. To enlighten society about torture, so as to reduce the incidence of torture; and
  8. To help torture victims towards gainful employment in the community.

 

 

Programs and Activities

 

Treatment – provision to torture victims of multidisciplinary comprehensive medical assistance (medical, psychological, social and physiotherapeutic assistance).

 

Training - training for the staff and other professionals at the Indian Medical Association involved in the treatment of torture victims to improve their clinical skills. Doctors from all of India who had completed a correspondence course in counselling torture victims attend the seminar.

 

Research - studies on the impact of torture and its consequences on refugees and the local population. These studies help in the understanding of the problems faced by the poor and underprivileged section of the community, and help the center staff to organize health and other services for poor people. The studies include community survey about torture and post-traumatic stress disorders, which create awareness in the community, and identify torture victims who urgently needed the Center's help. Since the Center is able to establish very good contacts with the refugee population, it continues to focus on them, as this provide exposure for its team to the problems of torture victims, and also helps build its image.

 

Documentation - recording of reports of cases of torture published in newspapers.

 

Prevention - meetings, conferences and symposiums to create awareness among, and sensitization of, the general public and professionals. Human rights NGO workers as well as lawyers with a special interest in human rights, social activists, media persons and other professionals such as doctors, teachers and psychologists attend the activities.

 

Information and advocacy - information and advocacy activities include organizing public meetings to create awareness in the community; participating in the Annual Congress of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health; participating in the World Congress of Psychiatry; and participating in seminars organized by the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) and other international meetings.

 

Networking - collaboration with the IRCT and its Asian members, UNFVTV, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), British Council, National Human Rights Commission of India, Indian National Commission for Women, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Indian Law Institute, Indian Medical Association, Indian Psychiatric Society and Delhi Psychiatric Society.

 

 

Publications

 

 

Other Information

 

Address

 

Shubhodaya Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and Violence - SOSRAC (Society for Social Research, Art and Culture) (SCRVTV)

Basti Vikas Kendra, Private Colony,

Shri Niwas Puri , New Delhi 110065 India

ph (9111) 2633 1526

fax (9111) 416 38374

e-mail: sosrac[a]bol.net.in; sosrac[a]hotmail.com

www.sosrac.org

 

 

 

 

South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC)

 

Year Established: 1993

 

Short Historical Background

 

The South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC) is a network of individuals across the region. It seeks to investigate, document and disseminate information about human rights treaties and conventions, human rights education, refugees, media freedom, prison reforms, political imprisonment, torture, summary executions, disappearances and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. SAHRDC has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

 

Objectives

 

Investigate, document and disseminate information about human rights treaties and conventions, human rights education, refugees, media freedom, prison reforms, political imprisonment, torture, summary executions, disappearances and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

 

Programs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publications

 

Human rights education series

 

 

General

 

 

Full list of publications at www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/Publications.htm

 

 

Address

 

South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center

22, Northend Complex,  Ramakrishna Ashram Marg

New Delhi 110 001 India

ph (91 11) 23361120, 23342717 

fax (91 11) 23361120
e-mail: rnairsahrdc[a]gmail.com

www.hrdc.net/

 

 

 

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD)

 

Year Established: 1996

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is the first Tibetan non-governmental human rights organization to be established in exile in India. Founded in 1996, TCHRD is registered as an non-governmental organization (NGO) under Section 2 of the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860 and is based in Dharamsala, North India.

 

Objectives

 

TCHRD aims

 

 

Programs and Activities

 

Investigations, Research, Publications - TCHRD conducts regular, systematic investigations of human rights situation in Tibet and monitors human rights policies of the People's Republic of China (PRC). On issues of human rights concerns that confront Tibetans inside Tibet, TCHRD every year brings out an annual report, thematic reports, profiles of former political prisoners, monthly newsletters, and press releases and news briefs.

 

Workshops, Talk Series, Campaigns - TCHRD organizes workshops, talk series, public discussions and campaigns to engender a culture of human rights and democracy within the exile Tibetan community. Two workshops are held a year for college students and different target audience while TCHRD staff visits schools, institutions and settlements to give talks on human rights and democracy. TCHRD also launches various public campaign activities and also organizes in-depth awareness programs to broaden their awareness and support.

 

Diplomacy, Advocacy, Partnership - TCHRD regularly attends the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (replaced by the UN Human Rights Council) as well as other regional, national and international conferences. Such participation is aimed at highlighting the human rights situation in Tibet and to lobby and to network on the promotion and protection of human rights in Tibet. TCHRD conducts campaigns of international scope such as letter writing and signature appeals, and submits memoranda to visiting delegations and media on actual human rights condition in Tibet.

 

Knowledge, Skills, Vigilance - the struggle to improve the human rights situation in Tibet can only be won if TCHRD develop those skills necessary to achieve its aims. Therefore, TCHRD staff are sent for international human rights training courses, educational seminars and conferences to educate and empower themselves.

 

Special Concerns

 

Publications

 

The Human Rights Update (monthly publication)

Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in Tibet

 

Topical Reports

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

Information on other publications can be found at the TCHRD website.

 

Other Information

 

TCHRD is unique in the fact that it enjoys direct and immediate access to information from Tibetan refugees escaping via Nepal to Dharamsala. Besides, TCHRD has an all-Tibetan staff organization that recognizes the reality of the situation of living under occupation, of being born in exile and of having that access to provide accurate, up-to-date insights into life in occupied Tibet.

 

Address

 

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy

Narthang Building, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala

176215 H.P. India

ph (911892) 23363; 25874

fax (911892) 25874

e-mail: office[a]tchrd.org

www.tchrd.org