The United Nations Human Rights Council

• 21 May 2019

Why is it in News?

• Geneva based Human Rights Council’s (HRC) Special Rapporteurs recently submitted a note to the government asking about steps taken on addressing the alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir which were highlighted by a June 2018 report of the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR).

The UN Report:

• The UN report was released along with another report which was released by two NGOs on the alleged cases of torture which was endorsed by a former UN Special Rapporteur.
• As per UN officials, India is in contravention of several conventions it has committed to, including a “Standing Invitation” signed in 2011 to all special rapporteurs to visit India and more than 20 such visit requests, including to Jammu and Kashmir, are pending at present.

India’s Response:

• India has rejected all the claims made by the UN OHCHR’s report on the ‘Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir’ calling it biased. It is the first-ever such report on Jammu and Kashmir.
• Indian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva replied to the OHCHR that India does not intend to engage further with these Special Rapporteurs on the issue whom it accused of individual prejudice.

Report by the NGOs:

Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and the J&K Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) released a report ‘Torture: Indian State’s Instrument of Control in J&K’ which highlights the following:

• Nearly 70% of torture victims in J&K were civilians (not militants) and 11% died during or as a result of torture.
• The cases included incidents of electrocution, ‘water-boarding’ and sexual torture, which the government has repeatedly denied.