Tuesday, November 17, 2015

“यातना का अंत-सामूहिक सरोकार” विषयक अंर्तराष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन

मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति और समाजकार्य विभाग,  काशी विद्यापीठवाराणसी के संयुक्त तत्वाधान में दो दिवसीय (15-16 नवम्बर, 2015) यातना का अंत-सामूहिक  सरोकार”  विषयक अंर्तराष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन का आयोजन गाँधी अध्ययन पीठ वाराणसी उत्तर प्रदेश में किया गया है | जिसमे नेपाल व भारत के उत्तर प्रदेश सहित बिहार, उत्तराखण्ड, मध्य प्रदेश, झारखण्ड, मणिपुर, दिल्ली, महाराष्ट्र, कर्नाटक से प्रतिनिधि शामिल हुए |
जिसके  बाद आज आखिरी दिन 16 नवम्बर, 2015 को प्रेस वार्ता गाँधी अध्ययन पीठ में आयोजित की गयी जिसको प्रोफ़ेसर अहमद सगीर इनाम शास्त्री, डा० महेंद्र प्रताप सिंह, इतिहासकार, डा0 लेनिन रघुवंशी, महासचिव, मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति,श्रुति नागवंशी, मैनेजिंग ट्रस्टी मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति, ने प्रेस वार्ता को संबोधित किया, जिसमे दो दिवसीय चले इस सम्मलेन की रिपोर्ट मीडिया के समक्ष रखते हुए बताया कि मानवाधिकार मूल्यों के परिपेक्ष्य में राज्य और आम ग़रीब नागरिकों के बीच बढ़ते अंतरराज्य द्वारा यातना रोकथाम एवं यातना के स्वरूप के पहचान न होने के कारण पूर्ण उदासीनता स्पष्ट रूप से प्रदर्शित होती है | आज यह बात साबित हो गयी है कि किसी समुदाय या वर्ग को प्रभाव व दबाव में लेने के लिए यातना व हिंसा का सहारा लिया जाता है जिसके फलस्वरूप पीड़ित व समुदाय तनाव अवसाद हिंसा आत्मह्त्या,  चिंता व अनिद्रा जैसी भयंकर मनोवैज्ञानिक एवं मनोसामाजिक समस्याओं से जूझता है समाज के सभी तबके, समुदाय और शिक्षित, बुद्धिजीवी वर्ग में यातना के विभिन्न स्वरूप के रोक थाम के लिए सरकार एवं मानवाधिकार संस्थानों द्वारा अविलम्ब पहल करने की आवश्यकता है |
      इस दो दिवसीय संगोष्ठी में बुद्धिजीवियों एवं मानवधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं के द्वारा गहन चिंतन और मनन के बाद इस बात पर जोर दिया कि यातना सिर्फ़ शारीरिक नहीं होती है बल्कि बहुत ही गंभीर रूप में यह मानसिक मनोवैज्ञानिक एवं सांवेगिक रूप में होती है | यातना को ख़त्म करने व यातना मुक्त समाज की स्थापना के लिए कई बिन्दुओ पर चर्चा के बाद मुख्य सिफारिशे इस प्रकार रहे -
  • भारत सरकार संयुक्त राष्ट्र यातना विरोधी कन्वेंशन (UNCAT) का अनुमोदन करे, साथ ही जिनेवा कन्वेंशन पर हस्ताक्षर करते हुए अनुमोदन करे  |
  • राज्य सभा में लम्बित यातना रोकथाम क़ानून को पारित कर लागू किया जाय |
  • साउथ एशिया ह्युमन राईट्स व्यवस्था (Mechanisim) सार्क के स्तर पर किया जाय |
  • पुलिस सुधार व जेल सुधार की सिफ़ारिशो को लागू किया जाय |
  • सभी शिक्षण संस्थानों में मानवाधिकार शिक्षा को एक विषय के रूप में लागू किया जाय |
  • माननीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय के फैसले, भारत सरकार की विभिन्न कमेटियो की सिफारिशो एवं अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार कानून के तहत आर्म्स फोर्सेज स्पेशल पावर एक्ट (AFSPA) गैर कानूनी और अमानवीय है जिस आधार पर भारत के विभिन्न राज्यों में लागू आर्म्स फोर्सेज स्पेशल पावर एक्ट (AFSPA) को हटाते हुए मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ती इरोम शर्मिला का उपवास अविलम्ब समाप्त कराया जाय |
  • 9 अगस्त 2014 बनारस सम्मलेन में तय किये गए “बनारस घोषणा पत्र” को लागू किया जाय |
  • संसद में महिलाओ को 33% आरक्षण लागू किया जाय |
  • राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग के ह्यूमन राईट डिफेंडर डेस्क को सक्रिय, मजबूत एवं प्रभावी बनाया जाय |
  • क़ानून के राज के तहत निष्पक्ष, सक्रिय व प्रभावी न्यायिक व्यवस्था को सुदृढ़ बनाया जाय जिससे न्याय व्यवस्था, मानवाधिकार संरक्षण के लिए सम्बंधित संस्थान सक्रिय हो सके |
  • पीडितो एवं गवाहों को सुरक्षा प्रदान करने का क़ानून पारित कर लागू किया जाय |
  • जेल में बन्द ऐसे बंदियों के लिए जिनके जमानतदार एवं जमानत राशि के अभाव में बन्द कैदियों को राज्य विधिक सेवा प्राधिकरण की सहायता से उन्हें मुक्त कराया जाय | 
  • जेल में महिला बंदी एवं उनके बच्चो को अनुच्छेद 21 के तहत स्वास्थ्य, शिक्षा, पोषण कार्यक्रम सुनिश्चित किया जाय |
  • भारत - नेपाल के रिश्ते को मानवीय, स्थायी करने के लिए अविलम्ब अति आवश्यक सामग्री यथा राशन, ईंधन, दवा की सप्लाई नेपाल को की जाय |
  • विस्थापन करने से पूर्व वहां के निवासियों की स्थिति का आकलन व उनकी आवश्यकताओ की पूर्ति करते हुए उनका पुनर्वासन किया जाय |  
  • यातना के रोकथाम व यातना कानूनी पीड़ित के मनोवैज्ञानिक, सामाजिक व पुनर्वासन की योजना भारत सरकार द्वारा शुरू किया जाय |

विदित हो कि जुलाई 2012 में दिल्ली में मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति, यूरोपियन यूनियन और डिग्निटी: डेनिश इंस्टीटयूट अगेंस्ट टार्चर के संयुक्त तत्वाधान में आयोजित राष्ट्रीय अधिवेशन में राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग के अध्यक्ष माननीय के.जी. बालाकृष्णन जी ने भी भारत सरकार को UNCAT के अविलम्ब अनुमोदन के लिए अपील की थी | 
भारत सरकार ने संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ के मानवाधिकार परिषद् की दो यूनिवर्सल पीरियाडिक रिपोर्ट (UPR) रिपोर्ट में यह कहा है की वो UNCAT का अनुमोदन करेगी और तीसरी UPR रिपोर्ट अगले वर्ष से शुरू होने वाली है |   

आज की संगोष्ठी के आखिरी सत्र संगठित हिंसा, यातना के खिलाफ विभिन्न अभियानों के सन्दर्भ में चर्चा में प्रमुख रूप से उदय दशरा संस्था, संध्या-शिक्षर प्रशिक्षण संस्थान, प्रोफ़ेसर महेश विक्रम, प्रोफ़ेसर संजय, डा0 भावना वर्मा, डा0 शैला परवीन, डा0 भारती कुरील (महात्मा गांधी काशी विद्या पीठ), संतोष उपाध्याय-बंदी अधिकार आन्दोलन, ओवैस सुल्तान खान, डा0 महेंद्र प्रताप, नम्दीथियु पामेयी, ज्योति स्वरुप पाण्डेय –पूर्व पुलिस महानिदेशक, रागिब अली व डा0 इफ़्तेख़ार खान, शामिल रहे | इस सत्र का संचालन डा0 मोहम्मद आरिफ ने किया |   
इस दो दिवसीय चर्चा परिचर्चा से निकले सुझाव का संस्तुति पत्र स्थानीय निकाय, राज्य सरकार व भारत सरकार को भेजा जाएगा और पैरवी किया जायेगा | साथ ही आने वाले चुनाव में इन मुद्दों को हर पार्टी के घोषणा पत्र में शामिल करने व लागू करने के लिए जन दबाव बनाया जाएगा | इस आशा के साथ कि समाज को यातना मुक्त बनाया जाय और सरकार UNCAT का अनुमोदन जल्द से जल्द करे जिससे समाज का हर व्यक्ति सम्मान के साथ गरिमापूर्ण जीवन यापन कर सके | इसके साथ ही पूरे विश्व में बढ़ रही हिंसा के क्रम में जो हाल में पेरिस, सीरिया, लेबनान व एनी देशो में हुए हिंसात्मक अमानवीय घटना में मारे गए लोगो के लिए 2 मिनट का मौन रखकर उनकी आत्मा की शांति की प्रार्थना के साथ यह भी प्रार्थना किया गया की आगे से ऐसी हिंसक घटनाये न हो |   



Sunday, November 1, 2015

Torture Of Dalits & The Underpriveleged

http://www.dalitcry.org/special_reports/torture-of-dalits-low-castes-in-india.htm#.VjTv67crLIX

Dalit Special Reports

Torture Of Dalits & The Underpriveleged

India has the status of largest democracy despite of this fact torture and organized violence against the marginalized remains entrenched in police department and it is a part of regular routine law –enforcement strategy.
Dalits, adhivasis and other backward low caste people suffer atrocities and discrimination in all spheres of life. In country like India where the caste system dictates the lives of India’s citizens, low deprived caste or untouchable communities are denied the right to be treated equally and the rights to have equal protection before law.
One of the most gruesome human rights violations the low caste people face from governmental bodies is the widespread use of torture by the police.
The torture is used for intimidating the victim to speak truth, or to push low caste torture victim to admit to false crimes.
The majority of low caste underprivileged people are targeted because of their inability to pay bribe to the police, insufficiency to fight a case for long and also because there is a general impression in Indian society that poor low caste dalits and tribals are not only do menial work but also from the major source of anti-social and criminal elements.
Because of these factors the low caste or untouchable community is an easy target for torture, the policemen who torture do not get sentenced for his heinous crime, and the mechanism of justice for the common man is lost.
There are two main aspects of police torture against low caste people. First, the historical, social and political factors that perpetuate police torture. Second, the condition the majority of the untouchable community lives in today and in what circumstances the torture is executed.

Historical Causes of Torture

There are two main causes for the rise and development of heinous crime like torture against deprived caste. First is impression of low or deprived caste people on rest of the society i.e. there is general impression in Indian society that poor dalits and tribals are not only do menial work but also form the major source of anti-social and criminal elements.
Secondly, thinking and tradition of upper caste people. Historically, a culture of silence has been permeated in Indian society. Privileged upper caste people believe that they are beyond the law and for governing underprivileged low caste or untouchable community laws are made.
Discrimination between low caste and upper caste people started from vedic and later vedic period and it is still continue in modern Indian society. This biased behavior prevalent in Indian society is also reflected in governmental bodies. That is why one finds most of the custodial tortures, violence and death are committed against marginalized and deprived caste.
Many dalits are tortured and subjected to humiliation and degrading treatment in public like garlanded with slippers and sandal, colouring their face black and white including force riding on donkey etc. Indian police practice community punishment to demoralize dalit community.
Demoralizing lower caste is very common to make them silent, so they cannot raise their voice. When aperson from upper caste commits crime, after trial the person is punished.
However, when it comes to the lower caste entire community is punished. This punishment does not originate from court of law, but carried out by upper caste in collusion with, police who provides sound support in punishing lower caste.

Situation today

Uttar Pradesh, for instance, constitutes more than 30% of the total population in India. The deprived caste people are discriminated daily because they are considered untouchables in country like India, where the caste system still dictates the lives of the population.
The caste system also leaves the Dalits and Tribals communities marginalized living on the outskirts of society. Because of the caste system and other forms of discrimination the majority of deprived low caste people live on the brink of poverty.
The children are not receiving proper education, and the income of families are from menial, low income jobs such as glass making, lock making and weaving, often in the cottage industry. Most deprived caste communities live in highly congested areas without proper drainage and electrical facilities.
The promises of development made by political parties are empty and little has been done to improve the economic and social standards of deprived caste people. The money allocated to these communities is instead filling the pockets of corrupt politicians. With no education and proper leadership the communities often fall for the same traps election after election.

How the torture happens

India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) released figures recorded from 2008-201, showing that within the 4 years there were 4,034 custodial deaths and 1,836 cases of custodial torture registered in India.
The worst affected state was Uttar Pradesh, with 999 registered deaths and 1,552 registered cases of torture, but most of the cases go unregistered. The huge amount of the victims in these cases was deprived caste people. Police torture is so widespread in Uttar Pradesh, it is believed among many aid organization like PVCHR and NHRC that all policemen have directly or indirectly, been involved in police brutality and torture.
By definition, torture involves the dehumanization of the victim which is made easier if the victim is from a marginalized deprived class people. To enable torture, the lack of human sympathy is considered necessary for the torturer.
The torture by police officers often occurs in disclosed locations or unofficial rooms in police stations. When suspects and witnesses are picked up illegally by the police authority and tortured for a number of days or weeks, it is often not recorded until the victims of torture admit to criminal activity.
Methods for torture include assault, physical abuse, custodial death, threats, psychological humiliation, and deprivation of food, water, sleep, and medical attention.
For women, torture also includes practices such as custodial rape, molestation and other forms of sexual harassment. The most gruesome forms of torture usually occur in the course of the investigation and interrogation of the alleged suspects.
In 2009, the Human Rights watch analyzed the effectiveness of the Indian police forces and documented human rights abuses committed by police officers. For the report more than 80 officers and 60 victims of the police officer abuse were interviewed from 19 police stations in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. In the report many officers
Today where everyone pretend themselves as modern as technology of this period are but when it comes to the matter of deprived caste, this so called modern upper caste people become rudimentary and follower of tradition and culture.
Because of this caste system there is a legal, social, political and economic discrimination against deprived caste daily. Police torture is a manifestation of social discrimination. Therefore ending police torture goes hand in hand in socially, economically, and politically strengthening the deprived caste.
Today there are many organizations working towards helping the deprived community out of situations which breed violence and discrimination. Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights a non- governmental organization who working towards these community from the grass roots level. They were not only providing psycho –legal support to the victims of these deprived community in their cases of police torture but also connect these communities with the various schemes launched by government for the welfare of the lower deprived caste people like MNREGA etc.
Suggestion
There is no doubt that PVCHR working incredibly towards the deprived caste victims by providing legal as well as psycho-social support. As an intern and observer of PVCHR I have a suggestion which hopefully enhance your effort towards the aim of making India as torture free country.

The very essence of Indian Law System is to provide compensation to victims with proper prosecution of wrongdoer who commit the crimes and it is a basic right of any victim who suffer violation of his rights. According to my observation in your case solving procedure it was missing.

by Ms. Nidhi Gupta (Student of National Law University & judicial academy)

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Support bail of poors and keep out them from languishing behind bars for years

Francesca Wander from San Francisco, USA writes, “I was startled to read the following AP article the other day in my local newspaper, The San Francisco Chronicle, primarily because, for so many Americans, $360 is so minimal an amount of money, spending twice that amount each year to purchase the latest and greatest iPhone! And that people in India can languish for years in prison because that is more money than some of them will ever see in a lifetime is beyond our comprehension.

I am not a wealthy woman – far from it. Nor am I particularly technically savvy. But I certainly could afford a measly $20 or so, to contribute to helping one of these poor souls regain their freedom, knowing that if only 17 other people made a similar contribution, one person could go free. Imagine how many loved ones (and providers) could return to their families if many more than 17 others contributed $20 or more.”

Please help to lesser children of God.


#poor #endimpunity #prison #dalit #ruleoflaw #india

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Police,torture,NHRC and Human Rights defdenders


It is real face of colonial and feudal attitude at Indian police. Shameful. PVCHR is fighting back to torture in...
Posted by Lenin Raghuvanshi on Monday, 19 October 2015

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Message from Prof. Rama Singh

Dear Dr. Raghuvansi,
 
I am pleased to know of the conference that you are organizing on ENDING TORTURE and I thank you for your kind invitation. 
 
As I said before while I cannot attend the confertence, I want you  to know that it is one of the most important issue of our time. I cannot think of anything more unsettling to the conscience than incarceration, solitary confinement, and torture of prisoners. 
 
These barbaric practices have become part of our so called civilized society, now more so in the name of national security. For these unfortunate prisoners it’s a dark and deaf world, their cries are just not heard, they are stifled. Public, politicians and media, they all ignore it and do not even think of the horrors to which some prisoners are subjected to.


Furthermore it is known but not widely appreciated that proportionately the biggest sufferes of these abuses are the blacks, browns, and the natives with whom the prisons are filled with all over the world. This in itself is a humanitarian crime llet alone the problem of torture.


Your conference is timely and important. I wish you all the success.


Rama Singh
Professor of Biology
McMaster UNiversity, Hamilton, Canada
Founder of Gandhi Peace Festival - Canada


Please participate for torture free world:
https://www.facebook.com/events/972568342766582/
‪#‎pvchr‬ ‪#‎natt‬ ‪#‎varanasi‬ ‪#‎kashi‬ ‪#‎benaras‬ ‪#‎banaras‬ ‪#‎torture‬ ‪#‎endtorture‬‪#‎endimpunity‬

Friday, October 9, 2015

DIGNITY in mental health: Testimonial Therapy as a brief narrative therapy

Since 2008 PVCHR and DIGNITY have worked in partnership with cost effective rehabilitation of survivors of torture and organized violence. Our project cooperation has resulted in healing and empowerment of more than 700 hundred survivors of torture mainly belonging to marginalized communities from more than 80 villages affected by torture and violence in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkand State.

The intervention strategies have comprised psycho-social and legal activities as well as selected cases of tertiary treatment by referral specialists and hospitals. Innovative and cost effective approaches such as testimonial therapy, group processing, meditation and mindfulness techniques have been tested and applied. Several articles published in various national and international journals, such as IRCT Torture Magazine, books, conference proceedings and newspapers have been published about the working philosophy and remarkable results of PVCHR.
1. Manual on testimonial therapy: Giving Voice "Manual"http://www.academia.edu/11316…/Manual_on_testimonial_therapy

2. Testimonial Therapy: A Pilot Project to improve Psychological Wellbeing among Survivors of Torture in India http://www.irct.org/…/back-issu…/volume-19--no--3--2009.aspx

3. Testimonial Therapy in India: Hope, human dignity and honour for survivors https://www.saddahaq.com/testimonial-therapy-in-india-hope-…

4. Resilience Based on Hope, Honour and Dignity http://peoples-studies.com/…/journal-of-peoples-studies-vo…/

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

यातना का अंत – सामूहिक सरोकार” विषयक राष्ट्रीय सम्मलेन में प्रतिनिधि के रूप में शामिल होने के सन्दर्भ में निमंत्रण पत्र

यातना का अंत – सामूहिक सरोकार” विषयक राष्ट्रीय सम्मलेन में प्रतिनिधि के रूप में शामिल होने के सन्दर्भ में निमंत्रण पत्र |
महोदय,
आज के वर्तमान समय में राज्य कभी स्वयं तो कभी कुछ अवांछनिय तत्वों, संघठनों के साथ मिलकर पीड़ित समुदाय व वर्ग के साथ यातना करता है | यह एक वैश्विक समस्या है, जिससे आज हर देश, समाज जूझ रहा है और आज यह बात साबित हो गयी है कि किसी समुदाय या वर्ग को प्रभाव व दबाव में लेने के लिए यातना व हिंसा का सहारा लिया जाता है | आज समाज के सभी तबके, समुदाय और शिक्षित, बुद्धिजीवी वर्ग में यातना के विभिन्न स्वरूप के रोकथाम के लिए एक वृहद् विचार विमर्श एवं चर्चा लगातार हो रही है | सभी शिक्षित, बुद्धिजीवी एवं प्रगतिशील वर्ग आज यह मानता है कि यातना सिर्फ़ शारीरिक नहीं होती है, बल्कि बहुत ही गंभीर रूप में यह मानसिक, मनोवैज्ञानिक एवं सांवेगिक रूप में किया जाता है| जिसके फलस्वरूप पीड़ित व समुदाय तनाव, अवसाद, हिंसा, आत्मह्त्या, चिंता व अनिद्रा जैसी भयंकर मनोवैज्ञानिक एवं मनोसामाजिक समस्याओं से जूझता है | इस सन्दर्भ में समाज कार्य व्यवसाय एवं मानवाधिकार मूल्यों के परिपेक्ष्य में राज्य और आम ग़रीब नागरिकों को न्याय मिलने के बीच बढ़ते अंतर, राज्य द्वारा यातना रोकथाम एवं यातना के स्वरूप के पहचान न होने के कारण पूर्ण उदासिनता स्पष्ट रूप से प्रदर्शित होता है |
इसी प्रक्रिया में हमारी संस्था मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति/जनमित्र न्यास, वाराणसी, उत्तर प्रदेश, नेशनल एलायंस ऑन टेस्टीमनी थेरेपी(NATT) जो कि भारत के 18 स्वयंसेवी संगठनो का एक मंच है के संयुक्त तत्वाधान में डिग्निटी - डेनिस इंस्टीट्यूट अगेंस्ट टार्चर के सहयोग से 15-16 नवम्बर, 2015 को “यातना का अंत-सामूहिक सरोकार” विषयक सम्मेलन का आयोजन वाराणसी, उत्तर प्रदेश में करने जा रही है | इस कार्यक्रम में पूरे देश के साथ ही साथ विदेशो विशेषकर दक्षिण एशिया के विभिन्न स्वयंसेवी संगठन, विख्यात मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता, शिक्षाविद, मनोवैज्ञानिक, मनोचिकित्सक तथा विभिन्न जगहों से आये यातना पीड़ित अपने अनुभवों एवं विचारो को रखेगे |
ताकि मानवाधिकार हनन की घटनाओं एवं विभिन्न हिंसात्मक गतिविधियों, सांप्रदायिक हिंसा एवं यातना से प्रभावित पीड़ितों, आम ग़रीब लोगों को क़ानून के राज एवं भारतीय संविधान एवं अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार नियम-कानून के अन्तर्गत पीडितो को यातना से मुक्ति और न्याय दिलाया जा सके और दक्षिण एशिया स्तर पर यातना रोकथाम हेतु विभिन्न हित्कारको का एक वृहद् मजबूत तंत्र स्थापित किया जाए |
इसी अथक प्रयास में संस्था 15-16 नवम्बर, 2015 को सम्मलेन आयोजित कर रही है | जिसमे 15 नवम्बर, 2015 व 16 नवम्बर, 2015 को होने “यातना का अंत – सामूहिक सरोकार” विषयक राष्ट्रीय सम्मलेन में प्रतिनिधि के रूप में आमंत्रित है |
अतः आपसे विनम्र निवेदन है कि इस महत्वपूर्ण कार्यक्रम में आप प्रतिनिधि के रूप में निमंत्रण स्वीकार कर इस कार्यक्रम को सफल बनाने में अपने महत्वपूर्ण समय और सुझावों से हमें अनुग्रहित करने की कृपा करे |


Dear Sir/Madam,
                         
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) 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
Few links:

Launch of Book title Margins to Centre Stage: Empowering Dalits in India:
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.
Therefore we are cordially inviting you as an active delegates in this this conference.

Waiting your kindest response.

With regards,

Prof. Inam Shastri


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.