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.  






Thursday, October 1, 2015

Right to participation of children in democracy

For the establishment of real democracy need to be establish from childhood through right to participation at various levels, process, policies and action related to the children by the children.

In this feudal society, head of family takes all decisions. This phenomenon is exists either in patriarchal or matriarchal family. The structure of family and society is constituted on this premise.  Although the democratic system of governance has been adopted in this country, but there is no room for participation of all persons equally. Regarding participation of children, all adults, families and above all society seem to be diffident. If we closely observe behaviors of children, we find that children fight among themselves and become united after sometime. However, this does not happen with adults. Adults make division in the society on the basis of caste, religion, class and gender and try to inject this division among children. Says Lenin Raghuvanshi.

Due to the venerable economic condition the children of Musahars, Chamar and Nats communitiesfrom the very young age are helping hand for their parents such as taking care of their siblings and helping their parents in the their work.  During that time children are exposed to torture and organized violence.

So, in this context it was decided to pilot the concept of Children Parliament against torture in four ways to ensure Right to Participation, Right to survival, Right to Development, and Right to Protection of children between age – group 10 – 18 years in 22 villages of Badagaon and Pindra blocks of Varanasi Districts. As the sustainability of the initiative “Healing and Empowering marginalized communities in India” because these 22 villages are already in the advanced stages for declaring it as torture free model village and we are planning to exit in these villages.

In the formation of the torture free villages we were working with the adults on the torture and organized violence issues and enhancing their capacities on various Act and Guidelines and breaking their silence through various activities. While working on the various issues at the grass – root level activist came across with the many cases related to the children such as child sexual abuse, discrimination and corporal punishment in the school, child marriage, bonded labour and child labour and police torture and caste based discrimination etc.

This concept will provides wider platform for the participation of children and enhancing their capacities on various law, acts and guidelines and schemes related to the children such as POCSO Act, JJ Act etc.  through perspective building workshop, theatre play and meeting and workshop for using Information Technology (IT) as the tool for prevention against torture. From time to time the activist will do monitoring.

Karna hoga ahsas har Bacha hai khas (We have to feel that all children are unique) this initiative started in 2003 through participation of children in children parliament in Baghwanala an urban slum of Varanasi. Now 10 children parliament are functioning in 22 villages child rights centric village with the participation of 195 children (127 female 94 male).  The name of the bal panchayat are on the name of eminent personalities and social reformer such as Munshi Prem Chandra Bal Panchayat, Savitri Bai Phule Mahila Panchayat. The perspective building of the children done through various activities i.e. Workshop, meeting and theatre play etc. The outcome of participation was children opposed the child marriage and child sexual abuse. Says Shruti Nagvanshi, Child Rights activist.


Shirin Shabana Khan is Program Director at management committee and Program Manager of PVCHR – Dignity initiative “Healing and Empowering marginalized Committee in India