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Human Rights Report 2020

Posted on April 1, 2021 by admin1  395

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Released by the U.S. State Department, submitted each year to the U.S. Congress and contains a country-wise discussion of the state of human rights.

  • Also, Freedom in the World 2021 report which was released in March 2021, had downgraded India’s status from ‘Free’ to ‘Partly Free’.

Major findings of the Report

  • Concern about Detention of Journalists: The instances of harassment and detention of journalists that are critical of the Indian government’s acts and policies has continued, although the government generally respected the freedom of expression.
    • It states restrictions on the press, including violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists.
  • Encroachment on Personal Data: Government’s requests for user data from Internet companies had increased “dramatically.”
    • The government made 49,382 user data requests in 2019 from Facebook, a 32% increase from 2018. Over the same period, Google requests increased by 69%, while Twitter requests saw a 68% increase.
  • Unlawful Detention: The report takes note of the April 2020 detention of protesters against the citizenship laws and various other incidents under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967.
    • Detention of politicians under the Jammu & Kashmir’s Public Safety Act 1978, was also mentioned
  • Violation of Religious Freedom: Tolerance of violations of religious freedom; crimes involving violence and discrimination targeting members of minority groups including women based on religious affiliation or social status.
  • Situation in J&K: The report also noted there was an improvement in the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and further government continued taking steps to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir by gradually lifting some security and communications restrictions.
    • The government partially restored internet access; however, high-speed 4G mobile internet remained restricted in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Extrajudicial Killings: It mentioned that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals and insurgents.
  • Restrictive rules:  Report mentioned the overly restrictive rules on nongovernmental organisations; and forced and compulsory child labour, as well as bonded labour.

Human Rights

  • Human rights are inherent, inalienable and fundamental rights to enjoy dignified life. Human beings are entitled to enjoy certain fundamental rights irrespective of any distinction of race, religion,caste, sex and place of birth, etc.
  • The concept of human rights is enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
  • These are internationally agreed norms, which some countries protect through their laws and others do not.
  • The Declaration in and of itself is not legally binding; it is an unenforceable moral commitment. While many of the rights contained in the Declaration are natural rights or derive from natural rights, others are legal rights.

Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in India

  • Constitutional Safeguards: Part III of the Constitution India ‘also referred as ‘magna carta’ contains the Fundamental rights (Articles 12 to 35). The Fundamental rights enshrined are Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right Against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural & Educational Rights, Saving of Certain Laws and Right to Constitutional Remedies.
    • Directive Principles of State Policies (DPSPs) (Articles 36-51) under Part IV of the Indian Constitution includes Social, Political and Economic Justice by state, Free Legal aid, Organisation of Panchayats,  Fair wages and decent standard of life, Uniform Civil Code etc.
  • Statutory Safeguards: Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (amended in 2019) in accordance with the Paris Principles which was adopted in Paris in the year 1991, and endorsed the United Nations in 1993.
    • Establishment of National Human Rights Commission of India under Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
    • India had signed the Universal Declaration on Human Rights January 01, 1942.

Steps taken by government during the Pandemic to ensure rights

  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government ensured the right to food of every person through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, so that no one would go hungry.
  • Apart from this, wages have been increased under MGNREGA for the empowerment of workers in rural areas.
  • The government directly transferred money to the accounts of migrant labourers affected by Covid-19, through DBT to ensure the protection of their rights.
  • PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) to empower Street Vendors by not only extending loans to them, but also for their holistic development and economic upliftment.

Source: TH

 
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