India should sign convention against torture -- Bhagwati

India should sign convention against torture -- Bhagwati
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

Dehra dun, Feb 27: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should aggressively campaign for the ratification of the Convention Against Torture, among the few human rights instruments not ratified by India, advocates former Chief Justice of India and noted jurist Justice P N Bhagwati.

The NHRC and non-governmental organisations could also play an important role in preparing alternative reports to be submitted to treaty bodies, pointing out the correct situation about observance of human rights by the state, he said.

In a foreword to a report brought out at the end of the `International workshop on Human Rights of marginalised and tribal communities', Justice Bhagwati said the Indian judiciary had played a highly activist role in redressing human rights violations brought to its notice by NGOs. However, the NHRC was in a better position to deal with such cases and there must be close collaboration between NGOs and the commission, he said.

``If the NHRC is to reach out to the maximum number of people it cannot do so without the active support of NGOs and, consequently, there must be partnership between NHRC and the NGOs so that working together they can nourish and sustain the regime of human rights,'' Justice Bhagwati added.

He suggested that sub-regional networks of NGOs could be set up in the country for the purpose of bringing out a periodic report on the violation of human rights in their areas.

The former chief justice also called for the setting up a coalition of NGOs of the South Asian countries as the problems and difficulties facing the people in these countries were almost identical. The solutions which are evolved would be applicable in relations to all these countries.

``It is necessary in all the countries of South Asia to develop a human rights culture, which can be done only through cooperation and interaction between the peoples of these countries,'' he said.

The human rights workshop, organised by Dehradun-based Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), focused on the role of NGOs and the NHRC in promoting human rights culture.

It was attended among others by former NHRC chairman Justice M N Venkatachaliah, present NHRC chairman Justice J S Verma, Justice V S Malimath, Justice S N Bhargava, Justice Mukul Gopal Mukherji and Justice J K Mathur.

Former Nepalese Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, former Bangladesh Foreign Minister Kamal Hossain and Sri Lankan Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Rajapaksa were among the foreign participants.

Congratulating RLEK chairperson Avdhash Kaushal for organising the workshop, Justice Bhagwati noted that tribal and marginalised people for whom the workshop was organised were very vocal in expressing their concerns and complaints.

Bhagwati expressed confidence that the human rights workshop report would serve as an important document for human rights activists in the country.