Human Rights Commissions
report of the SCA of GANHRI on NHRC downgrading
the SCA conducted an interview with the NHRC and asked the institution to provide responses in relation to the following issues:
- Involvement of police officers in investigation vis-à-vis the independence of the NHRC and victims’ access to justice
- Appointment of Secretary General noting the recruitment process and the practice of secondment for such official
- Legislative changes to the PHRA
- Composition of the NHRC members and staff and how it guarantees pluralism
- The selection and appointment process in practice
- Addressing human rights violations including the protection of human rights defenders, rights of religious minorities, number of public statements, and recommendations issued
- Cooperation with civil society organizations
Whilst acknowledging the steps taken by the NHRC to address human rights violations and speak up publicly, the SCA notes that these interventions have not been sufficient to address
the systemic human rights violations including:
- protection of human rights defenders,
- rights of religious minorities
- complaints against police officers
- deaths in judicial and police custody and
- follow-up actions on the implementation of its recommendations
India's rights body faces downgrade, loss of 'A' status https://www.ucanews.com/news/indias-rights-body-faces-downgrade-loss-of-a-status/108701
Sister Vanaja Jasphine, a rights activist. told UCA that the downgrading “will deprive India of its right to speak at the Human Rights Council and its voting power in crucial global human rights discussions,” among other things.
“It will also damage the reputation of India as a human rights defender,” she said, and added that “a weak national rights body may no longer have the strength to hold state actors, police, or security forces accountable for human rights violations.”