Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Jan Lokpal Bill is very regressive: Arundhati Roy
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
मानवाधिकार जन निगरानी समिति द्दारा भूमि अधिग्रहण, पुनर्वास एवं पुनर्स्थापन विधेयक २०११ (प्रारूप) पर प्रतिवेदन
From: PVCHR ED <pvchr.india@gmail.com>
Date: 2011/8/30
Subject: मानवाधिकार जन निगरानी समिति द्दारा भूमि अधिग्रहण, पुनर्वास एवं पुनर्स्थापन विधेयक २०११ (प्रारूप) पर प्रतिवेदन
To: landacquisition.comments@gmail.com
मानवाधिकार जन निगरानी समिति (पी.वी.सी.एच.आर.) वायस ऑफ पीपुल(वी.ओ.पी.) का सहयोगी संगठन है. भूमि अधिग्रहण,पुनर्वास एवं पुनर्स्थापन विधेयक २०११ (प्रारूप) मे निम्नवत बिन्दुओ को शामिल करे :
· भूमि अधिग्रहण में उन किसानो को, जो जमीन के मालिक है को रखा जाता है, किन्तु भुमिहीन खेतिहर मजदूरों व भुमिहीन मजदुरो को शामिल नहीं किया जाता है जिनकी आजीविका किसानी, बिनकारी व दस्तकारी होती है. इन्ही तबको के बच्चो व महिलाओ की मौत कुपोषण एवं भूखमरी से होती है. अतः भूमि अधिग्रहण अधिनियम में भूमिहीन खेतिहर मजदूरों, दस्तकारो व बुनकरों के विस्थापन एवं पुनर्वास को शामिल किया जाय.
· दलित व आदिवासी महिलाओ पर जाति, लिंग व वर्ग के आधार पर तिहरी मार होती है. तीन चौथाई काम करने के बाद भी महिलाओ को किसान नहीं समझा जाता है. अतः विस्थापन एवं पुनर्वास में महिलाओ एवं विशेषकर दलित व आदिवासी महिलाओ की भागीदारी निर्णय में अनिवार्य किया जाय.
· बाल अधिकारों के लिए अंतर्राष्ट्रीय समझौते के इस घोषणा पत्र पर भारत ने भी हस्ताक्षर दिए है. इसका मतलब यह है कि भारत घोषणा पत्र में दी गई बातो का पालन करने के लिए बाध्य है. अनुच्छेद १२ तो यह बिल्कुल ही साफ़ करता है कि राष्ट्रीय कानून बनाते समय बच्चो कि भागीदारी का ख्याल रक्खा जायेगा. इसके मद्दे नजर भूमि अधिग्रहण के पुनर्वास में बल व महिला कल्याण को केन्द्र में रक्खा जाय एवं विस्थापन व पुनर्वास का निर्णय लेने कि प्रक्रियाओ में बच्चो व महिलाओ के साथ परामर्श बैठक का आयोजन एवं उससे निकले निर्णयों को अनिवार्य रूप से शामिल किया जाय.
डॉ लेनिन श्रुति
महासचिव ई.सी. सदस्य, वायस ऑफ पीपुल
मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति संयोजिका -सावित्री बाई फूले महिला पंचायत
सम्पर्क – एस.ए. 4/2 ए, दौलतपुर – वाराणसी (उत्तर प्रदेश ) मो. 99355-99333,
इमेल – pvchr.india@gmail.com www.pvchr.net
Fwd: INDIA: Action must follow the report discovering mass graves in north Kashmir
From: shabana khan <shabana@pvchr.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 2:58 PM
Subject: INDIA: Action must follow the report discovering mass graves in north Kashmir
To: pmosb@pmo.nic.in
Cc: Lenin Raghuvanshi <pvchr.india@gmail.com>
To,
The Prime Minister of India
Government of India
New Delhi
Reespected Sir,
Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) appreciates the efforts taken by the State Human Rights Commission of Jammu and Kashmir in conducting an enquiry and filing a report concerning the mass graves in the state. The 17-page report of the Commission's special investigation team, headed by a Senior Superintendent of Police, reveals that 2,730 unidentified bodies are found buried in 38 sites in north Kashmir's Bandipore, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts. This could of course just be a fraction of the real number of persons, reportedly disappeared or killed and buried, in unmarked or marked graves spread across the state. The question is, now that the Commission has filed its report, what will be done next?
On August 15 this year, the Union Defence Minister, Mr A K Anthony, urged the country's defence units to protect and respect human rights. Given the track record of the defence units stationed in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur, the Defence Minister's speech can only be viewed as an acknowledgment of the fact that human rights violations by the army units is a matter of concern for the government. To translate this concern into practice, complaints of human rights abuses by victims and those living in the shadow of the armed forces must be investigated and furthermore, prosecuted.
The investigation and prosecution of persons committing human rights violations cannot happen without the filing of complaints. In the absence of any form of witness protection in the country however, together with additional threats to human rights defenders, lawyers and victims, there are no enabling circumstances in the two states to encourage anyone to complain about atrocities committed against them.
For the past five decades the government of India has viewed any foreign entities willing to support victims' groups in the two states as Pakistan-sponsored groups. Any mention of the Indian side of Kashmir outside India is by default viewed by India's global diplomatic missions as a voice from Pakistan. This visible paranoia is based on the principle of 'deny it all'. While neighbouring countries may openly and clandestinely support violence in Jammu and Kashmir and in Manipur both in cash and kind, and while anti-Indian interests elsewhere directly or indirectly support most armed and violent groups operating in the two states, this does not absolve the Indian government's duty to protect its citizens, and nor does it excuse the government's arbitrary use of force against Indians.
Simultaneously, transparent efforts must be undertaken to locate similar graves within and beyond the districts where the investigation was currently undertaken. Parallel attempts must be made to trace why such persons ended up in unmarked graves. The potential of such an inquiry to expose atrocities committed by the state's armed forces cannot be a reason to not investigate. It is in fact the responsibility of the government to hold such inquires and to further guarantee protection to those willing to testify in such a process. Such an exercise would only improve the morale of the armed forces and promote public trust towards the government, which in both states is very low for the past several years. Those officers finally identified must be prosecuted and punished according to the law. A similar process must be initiated in Manipur as well. The draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 must also be repealed.
It is in visible acts of honesty that a government's legitimate writ and its presence as a guardian of the life and property of the people is noted. If the deceased have spoken from their graves, it remains to be seen how the Indian government will respond.
Thanking You
Sincerely Yours
(Lenin Raghuvanshi)
Secretary General
Friday, August 26, 2011
Heard to unheard voice of Dalits among the norwegian policy makers
www.bistandsaktuelt.no/
It is prepared by Mr. Ken Opporann, who is also famous photographer www.kenopprann.no/ and official photographer of Nobel Peace Prize www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/obama-photo.html. Who observed and participate in social movement all over world.
Eyes hope
They emptied the latrines, tanned leather and slaughtered animals. They took the "dirty" jobs that other Indians would not have. They should not be touched by people from higher castes. But now things are about to change for the Dalits.
(By Ken Opprann)
bistandsaktuelt_nr_6_2011_s18-20
A steady stream of papers must be reviewed and signed by Lenin Raghuvanshi (right) in the office of Peoples Vigilance Group on Human Rights (PVCHR). Raghuvanshi, who belongs to a high caste, established the organization in 1996 and has fought against the caste system since. Several times he's been threatened with death. - I am inspired and get strength from my grandfather. He fought for Indian independence from Britain. I also struggle against the oppressors - but these oppressors come from within, says Raghuvanshi
Thursday, August 25, 2011
बहुजन लोकपाल
Promoting psycho-legal framework to reduce TOV in India
Promoting psycho-legal framework to reduce TOV in India
International project in India
Country: India
Contact person: Erik Wendt
Partner: People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) works towards a democratic India in respect of human rights. The organization does advocacy work and works with campaigns to increase awareness at an international-, national- and at grass-root level. PVCHR works to educate communities about their human rights, and focuses especially on the rights of marginalized groups. They also work to prevent police torture, and to secure the right to food and education. PVCHR has developed a special capacity as a knowledge centre promoting testimonial therapy for psycho-social rehabilitation of torture survivors.
Context: International monitors report widespread violations of human rights, including the use of torture in India, the world's second most populous country.
India has signed the United Nations Convention against Torture (on 14 October, 1997), but the country has not ratified the convention. The Constitution, adopted in 1950, guarantees fundamental rights, such as the right to life and personal liberty, equality before the law, procedural rights, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, cultural and educational rights, and the right to redress in courts. However anti-terror legislation and the cast system in particular have contributed to a culture of impunity. The caste system continues to survive in modern India, and social structure prevents someone from a lower caste to enforce their rights.
Torture is not criminalized in domestic Indian law, and security forces and police perpetrate human rights violations frequently. Despite constitutional guarantees, legal protection and reports in the media, beatings, rape and torture seem to be part of a routine continuing unabated. Police torture has been documented and torture and organized violence (TOV) by both state and non-state parties against minorities occurs in India. Torture is used as standard operating procedure in police investigations of crime. Prisoners are one of the weakest constituencies in the society. They have no voting rights, have very limited access to the outside world, and are under the complete control of the prison authority. Trials can take years, and prisoners wait in overcrowded detention centers. Often, they have no lawyers, live in miserable conditions, do not have access to adequate medical care, and are likely to be tortured or exploited. Individuals who are poor and socially and politically marginalized are especially vulnerable to prolonged detention and ill-treatment. A significant number of torture cases, ill treatment and inhuman behaviour take place every year in the hands of the police. Under Indian law, there is no enforceable right to rehabilitation for torture survivors.
Project:
In a context of impunity, limited access to justice, and limited rehabilitation services, the PVCHR and RCT introduce a psycho-legal approach. The overall objective is a strong and well organized testimonial campaign, which contributes to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India
The project will work with rehabilitation, community empowerment and sustainable organizational strategies. The rehabilitation work will focus on Testimonial Therapy (TT) and the project will eventually serve as a platform for a scientific research project for validation of the TT approach.
The aim is to increase capacity for delivery of testimonial therapy among the organizations and institutions of the newly created National Alliance of Testimonial Therapy (NATT). NATT has been organized to provide an administrative structure for TT activities in India, including training and research. Information derived from testimonial therapy narratives will constantly be used to shape and strengthen advocacy campaigns supporting the prevention and elimination of torture.
Main activities of the RCT and the PVCHR partnership:
- Member organizations of NATT will be trained on Testimonial Therapy (TT)
- Direct support to survivors of torture through TT.
- Community based honor ceremonies & folk school will be organized to foster community awareness and empower of survivors of TOV.
- Initiation of advocacy campaigns against torture through NATT.
- Setting up of consultation meeting with organizations allied with NATT, as to share knowledge and conduct the TT campaign.
- Prepare and publish information materials about the testimonial approach.
- Lobby with policy makers and governmental agencies, using testimonies to create awareness of the negative impact of torture.
- Publish regular newsletters, pamphlets and reports through the NATT.
- Draw national and international attention to torture in India through the use of web advocacy to disseminate testimonial narratives to a wider range of stakeholders.
- Support victims in court.
About Testimonial Therapy
Testimonial Therapy (TT) is an individual psychotherapy for survivors of torture and other types of organised violence involving the narration of survivors' traumatic experiences. The trauma stories are recorded, jointly edited by the therapist and survivor, and compiled into a document, which maybe used by the survivors to raise public and international awareness about human rights violations. Over the decades TT has been successfully adapted and used in diverse cultural and political contexts.
In 2008, the testimonial method was introduced to People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR) - a human rights organisations providing legal assistance to torture survivors in one of the most socioeconomically marginalised regions in India Unique features of the TT version developed during this process included: (1) a brief format (three to four sessions) including psycho-education, monitoring and evaluation; (2) conducted by non-professional counselors; (3) a testimony ceremony; (4) a meditative exercise; and (5) a context-specific manual and training course for counselors. The testimony delivery ceremony is considered the 'turning point' of this brief-format TT and involves presentation of the testimony document to participants before significant others. It symbolises the transition of the survivors' private and subject pain into the public, legal and political sphere.
A preliminary study conducted in India indicated a positive effect of TT as assessed by increased well-being scores and information obtained from interviews with survivors and the trained human rights workers. Also in 2008, the brief-format TT was introduced to Sri Lanka for survivors of torture and ill-treatment. A manual was compiled and Sri Lankan human rights activists and community workers were trained in taking testimonies, as well as in monitoring and evaluation. In 2009 TT was introduced to The Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation Cambodia (TPO Cambodia)and in 2010 to Balay in the Philippines.
TT is not one, clinical counseling or rehabilitation method amongst many others, but a specific form of "political" therapy which should be conducted within the framework of a justice process, a human rights movement, or a political or feminist movement. This requires that counselors are convinced of the struggle for human rights and justice, and that some counselors are more suited to conduct TT than others.
Read more: Homepage dedicated to Testimonial Theraphy
जन लोकपाल की जगह बहुजन लोकपाल के लिए संघर्ष करें
Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and the PVCHR
http://worldmedia.mitrasites.com/pvchr.html
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Dalits stage protest against Jan Lokpal bill presented by Team Anna
Open Letter to Anna ji
Open letter to Anna ji
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