India's 2011 human rights record disappointing: HRW

[1983-2011]

New York: IndiaÃÔ human rights record in 2011 got a thumbs down from Human Rights Watch for its ÅÇailure to protect vulnerable communities and rapped the government for custodial killings, police abuses, including torture. The global organisation, that keeps a tab on Human Right violations across countries, also criticised the Indian government for its inaction in repealing the controversial armed forces act and for remaining silent on the ÅÈravest abuses in countries like Syria. In its World Report 2012, Human Rights Watch (HRW) assessed progress on human rights during the past year in more than 90 countries. In IndiaÃÔ case, HRW said it has been a Ã…Ã…isappointing year for human rights? Ťustodial killings, police abuses including torture, and failure to implement policies to protect vulnerable communities marred IndiaÃÔ record in 2011 as in the past, HRW said in its report. Asia director at the city-based organisation Brad Adams said the Indian government took few steps to ÅÑrosecute abusive soldiers, undertake needed police reforms, or bring an end to torture. Internationally, India missed opportunities to be a leader at the United Nations Security Council and Human Rights Council in protecting the rights of vulnerable people abroad. HRW said the Indian government took no action to repeal the ÅØidely discredited Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), disregarding the recommendations of political leaders and advisers. űrime Minister Manmohan SinghÃÔ call for ÃÛero tolerance of abuses by the armed forces has been undercut by the near zero progress in holding the abusers responsible, Adams said. HRW however said violence in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir dropped significantly during 2011. While the government has promised a thorough inquiry into the discovery of over 2000 unmarked graves in the state. In the international arena too HRW said India left a lot to be desired. India served on both the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council but it Ã…Ãet opportunities pass to support independent, international investigations into conflict-related abuses in Sri Lanka and Burma? India did not use memberships on these bodies to show leadership to protect human rights abroad but instead ÅÓemained silent on even the gravest abuses in countries like Syria. Ūndia is now watched closely for signs of responsible global leadership, Adams said. HRW however commended IndiaÃÔ Presidency at the Security Council, during which it was able to secure a consensus among sharply divided member states on Syria, leading to the first Council statement condemning the violence. The government however adopted Ã…Ãong overdue measures to compensate rape victims and revised its medico-legal protocols to exclude the humiliating ÅÇinger test to investigate rape cases, Human Rights Watch said. http://www.firstpost.com/india/indias-2011-human-rights-record-disappointing-hrw-197374.html