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India Centers

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Correction on addresses

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:

• Pakistan: The Land of Religious Apartheid and Jackboot Justice (2007)

• Need for a National Law for Prevention of Torture (2007)

• India Human Rights Report (annual)

• Naxal Conflict in 2006

• SAARC Human Rights Report (2006)

• The Adivasis of Chhattisgarh: Victims of the Naxalite Movement and Salwa Judum Campaign (2006)

• Nepal: One Year of Royal Anarchy (2006)

• Torture & Lawless Law Enforcement in Sri Lanka: A Shadow Report to the UNU Committee Against Torture (2005)

• Torture in Nepal: A Case for Investigation by CAT (2006)

• Lessons Not Learnt by Assam: Ethnic cleansing and internal displacement in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills (2005)

• The Chinese Chequer: Split Wide Open in Nepal (2005)

• The Bindunuwewa Massacre: A Cry for Justice (2005)

• The Banana Republic of Thailand: Rule of the Jungle in the Name of Emergency (2005)

• Beyond Gender: Illegal Laws, Ethnicity, Armed Conflicts and Trafficking (2005)

• UN Human Rights Council: Illusions, Realities and Kofi Annan's Search for Legacy (2005)

• Maldives: The Dark Side of Life (2005)

 

Briefing Papers:

 

• Unfair trial and continued imprisonment of former parliamentarian Sheikh Hasina (2007)

• Maldives : Judiciary under the Presedent's Thumb (2007)

• Withdrawal of the Maoists' unilateral cease-fire: Where does Nepal go? (2006)

• Nepal: End of the anachronistic monarchy? (2005)

• Joint letter on new Code of Conduct for "Social Organizations" in Nepal (2005)

• The Chinese Chequer: Split Wide Open in Nepal (2005)

• 11th Briefing Papers on Nepal: The case for sanctions and extension of restrictive measures (2005)

• Who funds the acts of racism and racial discrimination in the Chittagong Hill Tracts? (2005)

•ACHR WEEKLY REVIEW- an online report that provides analysis of human rights issues.

Issues in 2012:
»» Review/240/12: Justice eludes Nepal, 01 May 2012
»» Review/239/12: Combating caste violence, 27 April 2012
»» Review/238/12: India: Moving Towards the New Police State, 23 April 2012
»» Review/237/12: India’s Christianophobia, 25 January 2012
»» Review/236/12: Police firing in India: Human life remains as cheap as a bullet, 13 January 2012 Issues in 2011:
»» Review/235/11: The custodians of death: How NHRC scripts its own undoing by its reinvestigations, 29 December 2011
»» BURMA’S ROAD TO DEMOCRACY: China v West in Burma, 8 December 2011
»» AG’s opinion on the AFSPA is non-est in law, 3 December 2011
»» Nepal: The High Commissioner’s Human Rights Folly, 24 January 2011

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@achrweb.org

www.achrweb.org

 

 

 

Centre for Development and Human Rights

 

Date 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

 

• Publishing monographs, reports and papers on development, public policy and human rights.

• Organizing seminars and workshops on aspects of development, public policy and human rights.

 

Activities

 

CDHR is involved in:

• Raising national and international awareness that the Right to Development is a human right

• Networking with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on various aspects of development and human rights

• Examining implications of integrating a human rights perspective into existing development programs

• Undertaking research both independently and in collaboration with other institutions

• Publishing monographs, reports and papers on development, public policy and human rights.

• Organizing seminars and workshops on aspects of development, public policy and human rights.

 

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

 

• The Right to Development

• Rights and Development

• Reflections on the Right to Development

 

 

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@cdhr.org.in; arjunsengupta@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:

 

Training - consisting of documentation and record keeping, case record maintenance, referrals and support for accessing services, counseling and human rights.

 

Research - including surveys, assessments and studies of the impact of prevention Activities.

 

Documentation – consists of medical and legal documentation; library and information services; and monitoring of alleged and reported cases of torture.

 

Prevention – includes public sensitization and awareness training and campaigns; advocacy on the ratification by the Government of India; media campaigns of the Convention against Torture; and advocacy with health professionals and security personnel. CORE also publishes training manuals and handbooks.

 

Information and advocacy - CORE publishes reports, liaises with the media, conducts campaigns, carries out fundraising activities and government lobbying and participates in international forums.

 

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@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:

・ Postcolonial Approaches to International and Human Rights Law

・ The right to freedom of speech

・ The right to freedom of religion/secularism

・ The right to equality

・ The right to sexual autonomy/bodily integrity.

 

Objectives

 

Our primary objectives are

 

  • To develop a critical understanding of the role of law in the lives of women and other disadvantaged groups through research and promoting critical scholarship.

 

  • To develop a multidisciplinary approach to legal studies by exploring the intersections between law and other disciplines.

 

  • To develop feminist critiques and analysis of the limitations and possibilities of law and culture in the struggle for empowerment of disadvantaged groups or communities.

 

  • To publish and disseminate our research to a broad cross section of scholars and practitioners

 

 

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

• Exploring the multiple ways in which law, legal discourse and legal institutions operate to reinforce women’s oppression;

• Developing a sophisticated understanding of the role of law to improve the position of women rather than unproblematically pursuing strategies of law reform;

• Developing a feminist analysis of law to formulate more critical ways of using practicing, addressing and writing about law as it relates to women’s lives.

 

Special Concerns

 

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

 

Publications

 

• Cross Border Movements and Human Rights

• Trafficking Reform : An analysis of the protection of the rights of positive people, children and sex workers

• A handbook on human rights and legislative practices to combat trafficking in persons

• Consultation on Gender, Migration and the Law: Focuss on Bangladesh, India and Nepal

 

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@yahoo.com

www.cflr.org

 

 

 

Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Studies

- West Bengal National University of Juridical Services

 

 

Address

 

Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Studies

West Bengal National University of Juridical Services

Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan

12, LB Block, Sector III, Salt Lake City

Kolkata 700098 India

ph (91-33) 2335-0534/73799/0765/2806

fax (91-33) 2335-7422

e-mail: nujs@vsnl.com; nujs@cal3.vsnl.net.in

 

 

 

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:

 

  • Serve as a means of liaison and coordination between the teachers and institutions specializing in human rights education and contribute to all forms of research and reflections essential to the teaching of human rights;
  • Make available the text of international instruments--declarations, conventions, treaties, etc.--adopted by the United Nations/UNESCO/ILO and other international organizations as also relevant documents, studies and reports prepared by these organizations;
  • Collect and disseminate information on national and international human rights laws, as well as information, materials, syllabic and instructional guides for all levels of education and availability of materials towards setting of priorities for effective human rights research;
  • Facilitate interaction among teachers, scholars and human rights activists primarily by means of seminars, meetings and conferences.

 

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:

  • First National Symposium on Human Rights Teaching, 9-11 May 1985
  • Third World Congress on Human Rights, 10-15 December 1990
  • Symposium on Human Rights at the Turn of the Century: Issues and Challenges, 10 December 1995
  • Symposium on Democracy, Human Rights and Terrorism, 3 December 1999
  • National Seminar on Disability and Human Rights, 1 February 2002, organised in collaboration with the Society for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, New Delhi
  • International Conference on Globalisation, Development and Human Rights, 20-23 November 2002
  • National Symposium on Disability and Public Policy in Historical Perspective, 22-24 October 2003, organised in collaboration with the Society for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, New Delhi
  • National Summit on Disability, Human Rights Law and Policy, 1-4 December 2004, organised in collaboration with the Society for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, New Delhi.
  • National Seminar on "Human Rights and Social Justice in India" on the occasion of the 56th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2004 and in memory of late Professor K.P. Saksena (Founder Director - HURITER).
  • National Seminar on "The Rights of Tribals" on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2005.

 

 

Publications

 

  • Teaching about Human Rights at the Secondary School level (prepared for NCERT/UNESCO pilot project, 1982-83), pp.25
  • Human Rights in Asia: Problems and Perspectives (summary of proceedings and text of working paper of the seminar held in December 1982), pp.72
  • Human Rights Education (working papers and conclusions and recommendations of the seminar held in December 1984), pp.3
  • The Teaching of Human Rights (Proceedings of the First National Symposium on Human Rights Teaching in India at the University (under-graduate) level, May 1985), pp.82

 

 

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@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

To promote a human rights culture.

To provide accurate and timely information about human rights violations in India.

To promote public awareness about the nature and importance of human rights in India.

To participate more actively in Indian and international human rights movements.

 

Programs

 

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

Documentation and Publication -

  • Specific objectives:
  • To conscientize society and enhance and support the struggles of the marginalized for social transformation through dissemination of information.
  • To provide access to information through the electronic media (internet) on current trends of development.
  • To offer multi-media, resource material such as books, magazines, audio-video cassettes, slides, posters, journals, documents, reports, etc., to social action groups for training programmes, meetings, seminars, symposia, exhibitions, etc.
  • To document all training programmes of DRTC to serve as a tool for monitoring and evaluation of the programs and to serve as a guide for other groups involved in similar training programs.
  • To support protests of individuals and organizations on issues of social concern through literacy campaigns
  • To enable people's organizations in initiating basic documentation processes, such as recording, reporting, etc., as a vital tool for social change.
  • To publish thought-provoking articles, case studies, etc., that will enthuse and motivate the masses to move towards social action for a transformed society.
  • To provide a platform of like-minded individuals and organizations to unite and share news and views on various issues of social concern through newsletters, hotlines, etc.

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:

  • To promote a human rights culture.
  • To provide accurate and timely information about human rights violations in India.
  • To promote public awareness about the nature and importance of human rights in India.
  • To participate more actively in Indian and international human rights movements.

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:

  • To provide legal assistance to the poor
  • To conduct paralegal courses to equip trainees with basic knowledge of law to handle simple matters.
  • To help promote and build legal cells in Mumbai.
  • To prepare documents, bulletins and information on legal issues.
  • To identify and conduct studies on important socio-legal issues affecting the marginalized communities
  • To revitalize concept of Lok Adalats
  • To strengthen the government legal aid program
  • To develop the concept of mobile courts and barefoot lawyers for speedy dispensation of justice.

Training -

Specific objectives

  • Enhance the capacities of the trainees through information, skills and attitude building.
  • Strengthen the capacities of people's organisations, non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, institutions, professionals and social activists to understand and analyse social realities, micro/macro linkages, global trends, emerging market forces and help development of just, equitable and sustainable alternatives.
  • Conduct different kinds training programs either on the initiative of DRTC or upon request.
  • Equip leaders/trainers to be resources for their local communities.

 

Activities

 

Human Rights Cell Watch

 

- Mobilization: it mobilizes victimized groups on a human rights issue and works towards appropriate changes in policy making and the law.

- Monitoring and reporting: it develops appropriate responses when human rights violations occur.

- Arbitration: it makes the effort of reconciling differences between parties in cases brought to it

- Networking: it establishes networks with like-minded groups

- Documentation, training and research on human rights issues

- Awareness-raising and education: it prepares training modules on various human rights issues like rights of children, rights of women, right to environment etc. These modules and other resources are used in sessions on human rights.

 

Legal Aid Cell

  • Legal service to the needy
  • Paralegal courses
  • Establishment of legal aid cells
  • Training of law students
  • Preparation of legal bulletins

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@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


• Training of community leaders, women and young people
• Helping ethnic minorities to obtain better access to justice
• Increasing the participation of ethnic minorities in public life.


Activities


Ekta Parishad undertakes the following activities:
• Awareness-building to strengthen the local village leadership and their organization around the common cause
• Capacity-building for organizations of indigenous peoples, including through training and education, networking, and participation in relevant forums
• Organizing Sit-In, Rallies, Foot Marches
• Promoting dialogue between indigenous peoples and policymakers in local, regional and national authorities.


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
• Defeated Innocence
• Towards A People’s Land Reform – Discussion Paper
• Peoples Campaign for Land and Livelihood Rights – Report
• A Pedagogy of Non-Violent Social Action
• Land Rights – Case Studies
• Achieving people’s control over Land and Livelihood – report from the 1st global meet
• Land Question at the current Juncture and some suggestions for reform
• Truth Force – (English, Hindi, Portugal, German, French)
• For A Field of One’s Own
• Land Reform Experiences
• Land First Hindi
• Path Pani (Traditional & community based irrigation system)
• Information about the laws (Jankari Kanoon ki)-2012
• Jo Ghar Khoya Apana
• Hamari Jati Panchayat
• Sab ki Apani Ho Jameen – Non-violent struggle of women for their right
• Jungle aur Jameen par Nistar evam Vanopaj ke adhikar
• Van Gramon ka Itihas aur Bhavishya
• Rashtriya Bhumi Pradhikaran
• Narangi Bhumi ki Vasthavikata
• Empowered committee ki Bhoomika
• Bastar Ka Malik Makbooja Kand
• Khadanya evam Jal Vayu Suraksha
• Samrakshit Van khandon ki Janjh
• Chambal Ghati mein Samvad, Sangharsh aur Rachana ke badthe kadam
• Pagdandiyon par paanv Videos
• Ahimsa (non-violent struggle)
• Tu Zinda Hain
• Mein Adivasi hoon
• Theatre for non-violence and peace
• Punarjani _ Tsunami rehabilitation
• Long march for an own peace of land
• Land First
• On Foot for Right Newsletter
• Jan Satyagraha
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@ektaparishad.com
www.ektaparishad.com

 

 

Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation (HRARF)

 

 

Address

 

Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation (HRARF)

No.10, Thomas Nagar, Little Mount, Saidapet, Chennai 60001 India

ph (91-44) 2353503

fax (91-44) 2355905

e-mail: hrf@md3.vsnl.net.in; hrf@xlweb.com

 

 

 

Human Rights Law Network (HRLN)

 

Date 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

• Combat Law

Books

• Can Society Escape the Noose…? The Death Penalty in India

• The Terror of POTA & Other Security Legislations

• Prisoners Rights Handbook

• Women & the Law - Vols. I & II

• Mahila Aivam Kanoon (Women and the Law)

• A Users Manual on Combating Sexual Harassment at the Workplace

• The Campaign against Sexual Harassment at the Workplace - A Training Manual

• Supreme Court on Rape Laws

• A Resource Book on Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Rights in India

• Dalits and the Law

• Refugee and the Law

• Right to Food

• Eviction Watch India

 

Films

• The Terror of POTA and Other Security Legislations

• Manipur In the Shadow of the AFSPA

• Ab Khamoshi Kyon? - sexual harassment at the workplace

• The Assassination – starvation and the struggle for the right to food

 

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@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:
• The nature of social exclusion and discrimination in the social, economic, political and cultural spheres of society associated
with institutions of caste, ethnicity, religion, gender, colour, physical handicap, regional identity and age.
• The consequences of social exclusion on human development and well-being, human rights, human dignity.
• Through formulation of evidence-based policies for making a socially, economically and politically inclusive society which is free from any form of exclusion and discrimination.

 

Programs and Activities

 

IIDS undertakes research on the following:
• Forms and nature of economic, social, political discrimination and social exclusion of social groups namely Dalits, tribals, religious minorities, nomadic and de-notified tribes, and other similar groups, focusing on the consequences of social exclusion on: economic growth and poverty, education, health and political participation, and also the equal opportunity policies to overcome consequences of exclusion and discrimination.
• Economic discrimination associated with institution of caste and religion, its linkages with access to income earning assets and employment opportunity, poverty and economic growth and policy advocacy against economic discrimination
• Current economic, education and health status of discriminated groups (namely Dalits, tribals and religious minorities).
• Problem of women from discriminated groups of Dalits, tribals and religious minorities
• Study of collective action to address issues of social exclusion and political participation of the excluded groups
• Outreach Activities based on IIDS research
• Knowledge empowerment and the capacity building of the civil society organisation (namely NGOs, CBOs), funding bodies and the government to develop inclusive policies.
• Increasing the research capacity of research institutions/centers and individual researchers in institutes to undertake research on social exclusion
• Research Units IIDS has six research units formed on the basis of thematic areas and social groups. They are as follows:
»» Social Exclusion and Discrimination Studies - analyzes the nature and dimensions of social exclusion and its consequences, and develops evidence-based policies for an inclusive society.
»» Gender and Social Exclusion - analyzes multiple identity-based discrimination faced by women who belong to socially marginalized groups and its implications on access to livelihood opportunities, education, health and political participation with a focus on equal opportunity.
»» Caste, Tribe and Religion Status Studies - analyzes the situation of dalits, tribals and religious minorities in the context of their vulnerability and poverty, and evaluates the status of government programs towards their empowerment and inclusion in governance and society.
»» Inclusive Development and Policy Studies - focuses on study of policies and programs of government and other agencies that relate to livelihood, poverty, social protection, economic empowerment, human development and human rights. It also provides policy inputs.
»» Inclusive Governance and Collective Action - this analyzes governance, political participation and inclusion in policymaking processes, collective actions of civil society organizations to address issues of social exclusion.
»» Dalit Literature and Arts – include studies on dalit literature and arts and works to revive dalit art forms by wider dissemination in Hindi and other regional languages.

 

Special Concerns

 

Publications

 

Books
• Dalit Art and Visual Imagery (Gary Michael Tartakov, editors, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2012)
• Blocked by Caste: Economic Discrimination and Social Exclusion in Modern India (Sukhadeo Thorat and Katerine S. Newman, editors, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2010)
• Dalit in India- Search for a Common Destiny (Sukhadeo Thorat, Sage Publications, 2009)
• In Search of Inclusive Policy: Addressing Graded Inequality (Sukhadeo Thorat and Narender Kumar, Rawat Publications, 2008)
• B. R. Ambedkar: Perspectives on Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies (Sukhadeo Thorat and Narender Kumar, editors, Oxford University Press, 2008)
• Social Justice Philanthropy (Sukhadeo Thorat, Gail Omvedt and Martin Macwan, Rawat Publications, 2008). IIDS has published a range of working papers over the last ten years based on primary and other research studies conducted by it. The Dalit Asmita, a Journal from IIDS reaches across the nation to a wide readership and an increasing subscription. This is the first magazine dedicated to Dalit issues and focused on academic writing as well as poetry, literature and open-ed.

 

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@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

  • Support the people’s movements and organizations by providing various training to its cadres
  • Increase the capacity of dalits, adivasis / tribals and women leadership
  • Train NGOs, CBOs, university teachers and students and people’s organizations in rights based intervention, gender mainstreaming, advocacy and lobbying
  • Promote and strengthen civil society activities in Bangalore
  • Promote and support campaigns on issues related to the discriminated and excluded
  • Publish resource materials for training
  • Engage in action research

 

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.

 

  • Democratization of knowledge is the underlying principle of all our training programmes. Accordingly they are designed to equip our participants with knowledge of socio-cultural realities, effective animation skills and proper value perspective.

 

  • The themes of the trainings include: Socio-Cultural analysis, Human Rights interventions, threat of religious fundamentalism, Environmental rights, gender mainstreaming, impact of neo-liberalism

 

  • Training programmes are conducted for and with the social activists, cadres and leaders of people's movements, college students, elected representatives of local bodies etc.

 

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. 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.

  • Seminar on "Economic & Socio-cultural Rights" in collaboration with ISS, The Hague in March 1988.

 

  • Training programme on "Social, Economic and Cultural Rights of the Marginalised: Access, Violations & Atrocities" in collaboration with Centre for Dignity and Rights CEDAR, The Hague, Netherlands in June 2000.

 

  • Lecture on "Affirmative action" in collaboration with United States Consulate - Chennai in February 2001.

 

  • Nodal role in promoting National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights NCDHR in the wake of World Conference Against Racism.

 

  • Participation in "World Conference Against Racism" held at Durban, South Africa in September 2001.

 

  • International conference on "Globalisation & the Political economy of Labour, Gender & Social Movements" in collaboration with ISS, The Hague in December 2002.

 

  • Participation in Social Forums.

 

  • Nodal role in the formation of "South Asian Peoples’ Initiatives" SAPI.

 

Publications

 

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

 

• Paradigm Shifts in Development Cooperation – NGO Dilemmas and Options, Dr. Jose Murickan S.J. and team (2000 133
• The Market Economy and the Agrarian Crisis in India’- Occasional Papers -2, Dr. Venkatesh Athreya (2008)
• Impact of Globalization on Tribals- in the context of Kerala, Dr. Mathew Aerathayil S.J. (2008)
• Building a Just, Secular, Peaceful and Humane Society in India, Harsh Mander (2010)
• Communalism and Role of State in Karnataka, Dr. V. Joseph Xavier S.J., Ms.Beera Curie and Ms. Lakshmi Periyasamy (2011).

 

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@yahoo.co.in

www.isiblr.org

 

 

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.

 

Objectives


INSEC has three core components in its overall strategic framework: Knowledge building, policy advocacy, and capacity building of rights defenders and rights claimers. Guided by this strategic framework, INSEC aims to achieve six strategic objectives:
1. People, government, law enforcing and other concerned agencies are aware of the issues and incidences of Human Rights violations and act accordingly
2. People, their representatives, law enforcement agencies and other key stakeholders are educated, sensitized and trained and take actions to protect and promote human rights in the country
3. Government promulgates and refines its policies and laws to protect and promote the human rights of its people in accordance with the international treaties and conventions
4. Effective role played [by INSEC] for peace building and consolidation of democracy in the country
5. Institutional competence of CBOs and other like-minded organizations enhanced to work together on human rights, peace building and policy advocacy
6. INSEC is recognized as an effective organization in the human rights field due to its efficient and transparent management practices.

 

Programs

 

INSEC has been implementing the following programs:
• Human Rights Education
• Child Rights Promotion
• Human Rights Policy Advocacy
• Human Rights Campaign
• Human Rights Yearbook
• INSEConline It has also been implementing the following projects:
• Protecting Nepalese Children from Bonded Labour
• Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Through Human Rights NGOs in Nepal
• Armed Violence Surveillance System
• South-South Staff Exchange Program(FK)
• Enabling Civil Society to Contribute for More Effective Inclusive and Accountable Public Security Policy and Program in Nepal.

 

Activities

INSEC undertakes the following activities:
• Formation and mobilization of groups/networks at various levels
• Holding literacy/awareness classes at grassroots level
• Holding capacity development programs
• Broadcasting human rights education programs through radio (AM and FM) services
• Organizing public hearing programs
• Celebrating special human rights Days
• Collecting/documenting/disseminating information on cases of human rights violation through publications and online news portal (www.inseconline.org)
• Organizing fact-finding missions
• Campaigning, lobbying and advocating on human rights issues at local, national and international level
• Carrying out urgent actions, issuing press statements against human rights violations, and litigating for human rights protection
• Undertaking initiatives related to peacebuilding and democracy strengthening
• Assisting in emergency rescue and relief efforts for human rights violation victims
• Undertaking research on human rights. Publications Regular publications:
• Prachi (Bi-monthly, Nepali)
• INSEC Aviyan (Quarterly, Nepali)
• Situation Report (Quarterly, English & Nepali)
• Nepal Human Rights Yearbook (Annually, English & Nepali)
• Informal (Quarterly, English)
• INSEC Annual Report (English) Other Information INSEC has been working with the following national and international networks and coalitions either as lead institution or as member:
• National
»» Alliance against Trafficking of Women and Children in Nepal (AATWIN)

 

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@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

 

• Human Rights Value Education - Navsarjan works to restore the right of many Dalit children to education. As an agent of social
mobility, education can lead to the emancipation of the Dalit masses. Today in India, however, the education system perpetuates caste discrimination, reproducing discriminatory practices at school, and effectively denying many Dalit children their basic right to education—and with it, the chance to break out of the cycle of caste-based occupations and menial labor.
• Model Schools set up by Navsarjan - In order to empower some of Gujarat’s most disempowered children, Navsarjan has established three primary boarding schools in rural Gujarat: Katariya, Rayka, and Sami.
• Eradication of Manual Scavenging Campaign - Navsarjan has been working since 1996 to end this inhuman practice. The Valmikis (manual scavenger and sweeper caste)—most often women—who perform this work suffer from a variety of serious diseases and disorders at a much higher rate than the general population.
• Land Rights Campaign –Since lack of land is a central reason for Dalit impoverishment, a campaign to enforce their land rights forms part of the backbone of Navsarjan’s work.
• Minimum Wage Implementation Campaign - This campaign tries to ensure that the agricultural laborers receive at least the minimum wage per day (equivalent to one US dollar and thirty cents).
• Women’s Rights – This program strives to give women a voice, and ensures that they are equally and effectively represented in the organization as well as in the movement, at all levels.
• Local governance and political rights - This program aims to empower Dalit and women Panchayat members and Sarpanches by educating them on relevant laws, their legal rights, and the necessity of standing up to represent their issues within the Panchayat. If the individual’s legal rights are being violated within the Panchayat, Navsarjan will provide legal advice. The goal of these activities is to make lasting changes in village power structures according to the purpose of the Panchayati Raj Act.
• Digitization of Research and Documentation - Navsarjan’s has a unique ability to systematically collect data concerning ground realities in more than 3,000 villages around Gujarat that it covers, analyze and utilize that data. The Digitization of Research and Documentation Program widens the scope and size of its data collection,
and helps identify trends and changes, helps in filing classaction suits, organizes data based on taluka or district to effectively raise a particular issue, helps lobby at the international level, and provides a replicable model for other organizations around India.
• Legal Intervention - Atrocities and violence against Dalits and Tribal —such as practices of untouchability, assaults, rapes, and murders—are addressed by providing assistance right from filing of the complaint until prosecution.
• Vocational Training (Dalit Shakti Kendra) - Literally translating to “Dalit Empowerment Center”, DSK is primarily a vocational training center serving economically and socially marginalized youth. However, it also provides personality development, leadership skills, social and political education, and a space for self-reflection and growth.

 

Address

 

Navsarjan

C/O Dalit Shakti Kendra

Village Nani Devti, Sanand–Bavla Road

Taluka Sanand, District Ahmedabad 

Gujarat 380 007 India

ph (91-2717) 325937/324323

fax 91-2717) 287308

e-mail: info@navsarjan.org; navsarjan@satyam.net.in; navsarjan@iqara.net; Navsarjan@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

 

  • To research and document Indian approaches to the promotion of peace, at home and abroad.
  • To develop a curriculum of peace and conflict studies based on Indian domestic, regional and global requirements.
  • To encourage capacity for conflict prevention and resolution in government and civil society agencies.

To build a community of academic expertise in conflict prevention, management, and post-conflict peace-building

 

Programs

 

  • M.A. in Conflict Analysis and Peace Building

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.

  • Ph. D. in Peace and Conflict Studies

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

  • Visiting Fellows Program

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

 

  • Organizing Seminars, Conferences, Workshops and Panel Discussions

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)

  • Student Internships

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.

  • Simulations:

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

 

  • Curriculum Development has long been an interest of NMCPCR, beginning with a workshop for a Foundation Course in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, which was held on February 22-24, 2005, in Collaboration with UN University for Peace, Costa Rica and Jawaharlal Nehru University. The workshop was a first step towards developing a foundation course in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, which could be used by universities in India and South Asia with suitable adaptations to accommodate regional and local requirements. Around 30 participants from 18 universities from India as well as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh participated in the workshop.
  • From 2005-2006 the NMCPCR was involved with the Delhi Policy Group in an ongoing curriculum development program which resulted in the production of a set of 6 simulations on negotiating peace in deeply divided societies.
  • In 2006, the Centre has held a special series of curriculum development workshops, which were aimed at developing an MA course in Conflict Analysis and Peace-Building which the Centre introduced in 2007.
  • We plan also to develop course materials on peacemaking in India and South Asia, which could be adapted for use from the high school to the post-graduate level.

 

Publications

 

NMCPCR Publications:

  • Judge Navanethem Pillai, State Accountability for Crimes against Humanity and Genocide, text of Public Lecture co-organized with the Lawyer's Collective, October 2007
  • Sanghamitra Misra ed. (with Poorvi Paliwal and Archita Jha) Kashmir - Prospects for Peace (Conference Proceedings), May 2007
  • Ahmad Kathrada, "The Life and Times of Walter Sisulu", Sisulu Memorial Lecture, February 2007

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:

  • Judge Navanethem Pillai delivered a public lecture State Accountability for Crimes against Humanity and Genocide, October 29, 2007
  • Ahmed Kathrada delivered the First Walter Sisulu Memorial Lecture The Life and Times of Walter Sisulu, February 2, 2007
  • Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer delivered a public lecture Islam, Muslims and Contemporary Society, August 8, 2005

 

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@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

 

T"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@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. To promote human rights culture through education and conscientization of the larger community.


Programs and Activities


• Human rights monitoring and reporting comprise the foundation of the human rights work of People’s Watch. People’s Watch has set the standard for professional monitoring through scientific
fact-finding and information collection at incident sites. It has a Regional Human Rights Coordinator (RHRC) in each of the ten regions of Tamilnadu acting as People’s Watch’s local advocacy officer,
and organizing fact-finding missions regarding cases of police torture, encounter death, custodial death, caste abuses and atrocities, violence against women, corporal punishment, and violence
against minorities.
• Legal intervention, the next logical step to monitoring, has become the expertise of People’s Watch. Interventions are made in the form of filing complaints before the courts or various commissions to make the state accountable for particular human rights violations. Interventions are also made at the international level by seeking support and solidarity of the different human rights organizations and by appropriately using the human rights instruments and mechanisms of the United Nations to highlight issues.
• The Research and Training Unit prepares research tools and compiles data on human rights issues, especially focusing on socioeconomic rights-related issues, for campaigns largely carried out by the Human Rights Monitoring Unit and the Movement-building unit.
• The RTI Desk has an enhanced thrust on using the Right to Information Act (RTI) to promote human rights. This unit sends petitions under the RTI Act and collects information from different
government departments to facilitate legal interventions, files complaints with the state authorities on human rights violations, and undertakes research and studies.
• The work on economic, social and cultural rights issues started under the Strategic Plan – 2008 of People’s Watch. Though comparatively small, its livelihood rights activities continue.
• The National Program on Human Rights Education started in 1997 aiming to impart a culture of human rights among the secondary school students in the high schools. It has covered so far 317,477 students and 4,512 teachers in 3,934 schools across 18 states in India.
• The Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture & Domestic Violence has two units in Tamil Nadu providing social, psychological and medical rehabilitation services besides Victims & Witness
protection services.
• The National Program on Monitoring of National & State Human Rights Institutions started in 2009 aimed at monitoring and documenting the efficiency and effectiveness of more than 150 institutions
at the national and state levels.
• The National Program on Human Rights Defenders started in 2009 as a vibrant urgent appeal system. The emergence of the Human Rights Defenders Alert - India and All India NGOs Network
on Human Rights Institutions (AiNNI) have been the most significant outcomes of this ongoing program after the 30 odd trainings conducted in 2009 -2010.
• The Documentation Center is the “nerve center” of all of People’s Watch’s programs. It maintains a collection of relevant news items and a library on law and human rights materials, with items in English and Tamil. The Documentation Centre caters to the internal needs of People’s Watch as well as the needs of outside organizations and individuals. One of the prize collections of the documentation center is an electronic documentation of all newspapers on human rights violations in Tamilnadu for the past 17 years.


Publications


• Modules I, II and III of the Institute of Human Rights Education on ‘Introduction to Human Rights’, ‘Child Rights’ and ‘Discrimination’ in English, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Bengali etc. (--year--)
• Resource Material for Lawyers and Criminal Justice Administrators (2006)
• Resource Material for Doctors, Psychiatrists, Psychologist (2006)
• National & International Standards Files (2007)
• National & International Standards CDs (2007)
• Handbook on Torture in 8 languages (2007)
• Annual Report on Torture – Volume I and II (2008)
• Torture and Impunity in India (2008)
• A Guidebook for Human Rights Defenders
• UDHR / Defenders Declaration Booklets in 4 languages
• A Monthly Human Rights Magazine called ‘Kangani’

• NGO Report on the Compliance with the Paris Principles by the NHRC of India submitted by AiNNI (--year--)


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@pwtn.org; henri@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@satyam.net.in

www. sakshiap.org

 

 

 

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

8) To enlighten society about torture, so as to reduce the incidence of torture

9) 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

 

• A Study on Torture and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among Myanmar Refugees In India

• A Study on Torture and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Refugees in New Delhi

• A Study on Victims of Torture in Refugee Community and Local Migrants In and Around Delhi (Noida)

• Annual Reports (since 2000)

 

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@bol.net.in; sosrac@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

 

  • Collection of information on human rights - it collects information on human rights, specifically on violations of civil and political rights. The subject areas of its holdings are: human rights education; arrest, detention and disappearances; refugees and asylum; torture, capital punishment and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; freedom of the media; custodial deaths; and extrajudicial killings. All our information is either in English or translated into English from other languages.

 

  • Publication - it brings out an electronic feature service called Human Rights Features Service in cooperation with Human Rights Documentation Centre (HRDC). It also does regular backgrounders on subjects of immediate interest to subscribers and the media.

 

  • Campaign - it sends out Action Alerts requesting the national and international human rights community to appeal to Governments in South Asia to stop the violation of human rights in their countries.
  • Networking
  • Training - series of human rights training programs in the South Asian and East Asian

 

  • Internship - it accepts interns from all over the world, who have a serious human rights commitment. Intending interns should be prepared and capable of hard and diligent research work. SAHRDC welcomes students, mid-term career professionals and lawyers looking for a sabbatical with good analytical and research aptitude.

 

 

Publications

 

Human rights education series

 

Human Rights and Humanitarian Law: Developments in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Oxford University Press, 2008)

 

Handbook of Human Rights and Criminal Justice In India: The System and Procedure (Oxford University Press, 2006)

 

Introducing Human Rights: An Overview Including Issues of Gender Justice, Environmental, and Consumer Law (Oxford University Press, 2006)

 

A Step in the Rights Direction (Tata McGraw-Hill, 2000)

 

General

 

Legitimising Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment: The Ignominy of the Law Commission of India's Report on Modes of Execution (2005)

 

Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004 (2005)

 

National Human Rights Commission of Korea: Miles To Go (2004)

 

National Human Rights Institutions in the Asia Pacific Region (2002)

 

Knitting the Multi-Coloured Cloak of Asia: Recognizing and Eradicating Racism and Discrimination (2001)

 

Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance 2001: Government Decide to Play Judge and Jury (2001)

 

Judgment Reserved: The Case of the National Human Rights Commission of India (2001)

 

Eliminating Sovereign and Official Immunity in Fundamental Human Rights Cases (2001)

 

Preventive Detention and Individual Liberty (2000)

 

Abolition of the Death Penalty (2000)

 

Komnas HAM: The Indonesian National Human Rights Commission: The Formative Years (2000)

 

Country Studies in Racial Discrimination Series (2000)

 

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@gmail.com

www.hrdc.net/sahrdc

 

 

 

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

 

  • To promote and protect human rights of the Tibetan people in Tibet
  • To educate the exile Tibetan community on human rights principles and democratic concepts

 

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

• Prisoners of Tibet

• Railway and China's Development Strategy in Tibet: A Tale of Two Economies

 

2005

• KUXING:Torture in Tibet

• Death Penalty in China

 

2004

• Strike Hard Campaign: China's crackdown on political dissidence

• Education in Tibet: A human rights perspective

• Unjust Sentence - A Special Report on Trulku Tenzin Delek

 

2003

• Education in Tibet: A Briefing Paper for the Special Rapporteur

• Briefing Paper for Travellers to Tibet updated from 1999

 

2002

• Dispossessed: Land and Housing Rights in Tibet

• Destruction of Serthar Institute: A special report

 

2001

• Drapchi Prison: Tibet's most Dreaded Prison

 

2000

• Impoverishing Tibetans

• Racial Discrimination in Tibet

• TCHRD Review

 

1999

• A Guide to Human Rights

• A Guide to Democracy

• Briefing Paper for Travellers to Tibet

• Tales of Terror: Torture in Tibet

 

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@tchrd.org

www.tchrd.org

 

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