Greetings from PVCHR and NATT.
Torture, practiced by states, non -state actors and
sometimes together, continues to be a global problem. Despite global resolve
for its prevention, it continues to be an accepted and practiced tool for dominance.
While the definition of torture is contested among organisations and
academicians, what is agreed is that torture involves both physical and
psychological methods of causing pain, distress or harm. Limited project based
findings have highlighted the scale of its prevalence and institutional
shortcomings in preventing torture, accessing justice and rehabilitation of the
survivors. Unwillingness by the states to recognize its prevalence and address
it has strained relationship between state and citizens.
In this background, People’s Vigilance Committee on
Human Rights (PVCHR), National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT) and
Department of Social Work, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi in
collaboration with DIGNITY: Danish Institute against Torture are organizing a
Conference titled “Ending Torture: Collective concern” in Varanasi,
India on 15-16 November, 2015. Academicians, civil society groups,
representatives of human rights institutions and survivors from several South
Asian countries will present their thought and share their experiences.
Concept Note: CONFERENCE ON “ENDING TORTURE: COLLECTIVE CONCERN”
The overall goal of Initiative ‘Healing and
Empowering the Marginalized Communities of India’ is
to sustain a strong testimonial campaign contributing to eliminate
impunity for perpetrators of torture in India. Specific objectives include
strengthening a solidarity Movement of the Torture and organized violence -free
Villages, detention places and prisons and cities; promoting psycho-social support
of the survivors, their families and communities; and mobilizing civil
society and academia towards advocacy for justice and prevention of the
survivors of torture & lobby and advocacy for the survivors of TOV at the
Sub-Regional and International levels.
PVCHR principles are tested and aligned with the
human rights based approach. The dynamics of power and politics between rights
holders at local level to duty bearers at districts and national level are
analyzed thoroughly before and during action. The motto is from policy to
practice and practice to policy. PVCHR is bridging the capacity gap between
duty and rights holders and create channels for the voice of local communities
to be listened to by decision makers at district and national level.
PVCHR is active in the 3 themes– Urban, Detention
and Rehabilitation – and they perceive themselves as a grassroots psycho-social
organization. PVCHR is recognized in India and internationally for its work
against violence affecting poor neighborhoods of India. National and
international dailies and broadcasting companies report on torture and violence
with information from PVCHR. PVCHR is coordinator in the South Asian Network
against Torture (SANTI[1]). Interest from other human rights organizations in
the project strategies is growing and the outlook of PVCHR is determined
to work for building a regional movement on Testimonial Therapy covering
South Asia [2].
The ‘Model Village’ is the key change concept and
PVCHR is making substantial progress in reducing torture and violence in 70
villages as part of the preventive campaign ‘torture free villages’. The
concept has received tremendous attention and other Indian NGOs and they have
taken up similar principles. Prime Minister Modi has embraced the Model Village
perspective in his political speech-making on promoting local development.
The pre- post- effect study on Testimonial Therapy
(TT) was based upon 500+ torture and organized violence cases by PVCHR. Data
analysis and article writing was assisted by DIGNITY. The article concluded
that TT has a promising positive therapeutic effect on the survivors. TT
facilitator’s manual has been transformed into local languages and the training
on TT has been offered to other organizations. More than 100 Indian CSO
organizations are enrolled in the National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy.
India has twice given promises at UPR sessions for
ratification of the CAT. Broken promises are common in Indian politics and the
draft Anti-Torture law has not moved further by the select committee since
2010. The PVCHR review and recommendations to improve the draft law was based
upon the analysis and recommendations offered by the lawyer, Emily Reilly from
DIGNITY. Prospects for passing the law are good under the prevailing political
circumstances.
Torture, Rule of Law and Poverty: Analysis of the
individual cases of torture handled by PVCHR illustrates the critical failings
in a dysfunctional public justice system in India. Prison conditions in India
are appalling with all the known symptoms of poor correctional systems. There
is no unified correctional system in India but many different systems in the
individual states. The biggest problems are found in the district prisons. In
many ways PVCHR has made similar findings and analysis as in The ‘Locust
Effect’.
Communal Violence: Post 9/11 India has seen
increasing discrimination and communal attacks against Muslim and Madrasa
schools. Muslim areas are often target of anti-terror campaigns. 54% of
prisoners in Indian prisons are Muslims and 28% are Dalits. Right wing Hindu
fascists orchestrate planned communal riots, such as in Aligarh (Uttar
Pradesh). The attacks on Muslims are frequent and the consequences are
destruction of livelihood – a paradox as Muslims constitute the backbone of
Indian small scale industry. PVCHR has been able to document the role of police
in attacks on Muslims. Ultimo 2013 PVCHR completed the EU funded project
‘Police Torture against Muslim Minorities’. The project documented severe human
rights violations and the general socio-economic deprivation of Muslim
communities.
Objective of
Conference as next three years planning as:
·
Strengthening
and deepening a solidarity movement of torture and organized violence
free villages, detention places, prison and cities
·
Promoting
and sustaining healing and psychosocial support of survivors, families and
communities
·
Mobilizing
civil society and academia towards advocacy for justice and prevention of the
survivors of torture, lobby and advocacy for survivors of torture at the
sub-regional and international levels. To bring sustain peoples voice for
ratification of UNCAT and OPCT
·
Strengthening
NATT as activist Knowledge center
Venue: Gandhi Adhyayan Pith Hall,
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi.
Date:
15 & 16 November 2015, Time: 10.30 AM onwards
Call for academic paper:
PVCHR needs your
support to make this conference a successful learning platform. PVCHR invites
you to submit the academic paper on the followings themes. The paper will
publish in the special issue “Voice of Voiceless” Journal with ISBN number.
Please send
preliminary abstracts (max 500 words), together with a short bio.
·
Hurdle and problem in implementation of United
Nation Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) and Prevention of Torture Bill (PTB),
2010
·
Consequences of torture in context of mental health
·
Community based rehabilitation of survivors of TOV
Deadline: 5th
November, 2015
Please send
preliminary abstracts (max 500 words) and article (up to 3000 words), together
with a short bio to pvchr.india@gmail.com
Margins to Centre Stage: Empowering Dalits in India portrays
the journey of the powerless, marginalised Dalits, located in Varanasi district
of Uttar Pradesh, India to the triumph of hope, courage and social action over
despair, poverty, oppression and vulnerability with the help of the relentless
efforts put in by the volunteers of People’s Vigilance Committee on Human
Rights (PVCHR), India.
The critique chronicles how the innocent victims of
custodial-torture become active human rights defenders or freedom of
bonded-labourers is snatched from the confinement of feudal and capitalist
oppressors, and the change of weavers’ nightmares transformed into dreams,
optimism and motivation.
Authored by Dr. Archana Kaushik, Ph D, Associate
Professor, Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, India and Shruti
Nagvanshi, a social activist and co-founder of People’s Vigilance Committee on
Human Rights (PVCHR), India, the discourse would be beneficial for the
educators, students and practitioners of social work, managers and
administrators in welfare and development sector, NGO workers, policy planners
and all those who wish to participate in the future journeys of unwavering
human spirit towards emancipation.
Democracy, Socialism and Welfare State or Swaraj:
Prof. Mahesh Vikram
Why
at all I was prompted to write this, as there is no paucity of highly esteemed
scholars and thinkers and their serious writings explaining Democracy and
Socialism or Democratic Socialism for that matter.But, despite the horror of
widening disparity, inequality, exploitation, injustice and terror in the
predominantly Capitalist political economies of the present world what we see
just not an apathy towards these humanitarian political and economic doctrines,
i.e. Democracy and Socialism, but its total rejection with a jesting
environment about it all around us. Even those having sensitive hearts have
become confused about its real intent and form, not to talk about its
practicability as a distant dream. This is signaling a very deep crisis around.
This certainly concerns us, concerns us seriously. A number of serious
thinkers, leaders and friends have been alerting about it through their
statements and writings related to social, economic, cultural and political
aspects of this crisis. So it occurred to me to once again introduce the
history and the basic concepts of Democracy and Socialism to our present
generation pointing as well to the discrepancies as to what led to the follies
in its implementation as a system. Lest, there be no pledge to make its objective
and some form a reality on the ground as a Welfare State and a genuine 'Swaraj'
for the humanity. Hopefully, this humble attempt on my part may prove its
relevance a bit!!!
You are cordially
invited.
If you are unable to
attend program due to your prior engagement please do send delegates from your
prestigious institutions for making the program successful.
Waiting your kindest
response.
Ex. HOD
- Department of Social Work,
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith,
Varanasi (U.P)
Lenin Raghuvanshi,
Founder and CEO-PVCHR
[1] SANTI
was established in 2003 and have participation of human rights organizations
from South Asia. They organize regional consultations on prevention
of torture and breaking impunity.
[2] Due
to long relationships with INSEC, PVCHR has been requested by INSEC’s founder
and reputed human rights defender, Mr. Subodh Raj Pyakurel, to organize a
testimonial training in Nepal in 2015.
