India fails to
ratify UN Convention Against Torture (CAT)
June 26, 2007
New York: New
York
India has
steadfastly refused to ratify the UN Convention against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Convention). It had
signed the Convention in 1997 but it continues to put roadblocks in completely
adopting its principles in its domestic legislation. The Special Rapporteur on
Torture has also not been invited by the Government of India despite making
several requests.
There is
widespread use of torture across the country but especially against the
minorities. The religious minorities such as the Sikhs, Muslims and Christians
and the marginalized sections of the society such as the Dalits and women are
regularly subjected to torture. States like Panjab, Kashmir, Gujarat and North
Eastern states with a higher minority population have a higher occurrence of
torture. These states also have draconian laws and special legislations
enforced giving unlimited powers to the security forces.
Despite a
vigorous campaign against torture by Voices For Freedom and other human rights
organizations -- including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch-- the
Government of India has failed to ratify the Convention. Neither has it seriously
addressed the endemic nature of torture across the country including in the
proposed police reforms bill.
Voices For
Freedom continues to receive reports of torture and degrading treatment of
individuals arrested or abducted by the police. Only in the past few months in
the state of Panjab alone there have been numerous cases of torture and
degrading treatment including against Simranjit Singh Mann president of a
political party. http://www.voicesforfreedom.org./morestories.php5
http://www.voicesforfreedom.org./case_study.php5
Mr. Navkiran
Singh attorney Voices For Freedom Legal Director states that, “it’s essential
that physical and mental torture in custody should be stopped immediately. The
notion of the investigating agencies that the statements which are made by the
suspects/accused in custody as an outcome of torture reveals the truth, is a
farce. It’s high time that the investigating police officials are trained to
subject the suspect/accused to sustained interrogation/questioning and through
scientific methods which would strengthen the criminal justice system.”
The Supreme Court
of India and the National Human Rights Commission have passed many sanctions
against officers responsible for torture but it has not deterred the police
from inflicting torture on individuals. As long as police and such institutions
will be used by the governments as repressive tools torture will continue to be
used by the police.
On the
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Voices For Freedom urges
the Government of India, as a responsible country in the international arena
to:
·
immediately ratify the UN Convention Against
Torture;
·
implement effective changes in domestic legislation
to combat torture;
·
invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to visit
the country.
·
allow Human Rights Watch and other organizations to
visit places disturbed by violence to make independent assessment of reports of
disappearances and torture.
Issued by
Dr. Sudip Minhas
Executive Director
Voices For Freedom
www.voicesforfreedom.org
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