By TCN News,
New Delhi: Amnesty International India is asking political parties contesting the 2014 parliamentary elections to commit to and adopt as part of their manifestoes 14 key goals to improve India’s human rights record.
These issues are by no means exhaustive, and effective action will need collaboration with other relevant authorities, including state governments. But India’s political parties need to show their commitment to respect, protect and fulfill fundamental human rights.
Salman Khurshid
“India’s next government will face a range of challenges that will test its commitment to promoting human rights. Political parties seeking a mandate from the public have sworn to uphold constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality and dignity. But will their actions reflect this pledge?” a statement by Amnesty read.
Amnesty representatives are meeting leaders from various political parties including Congress, BJP, MNS, BJD, NCP, CPIM, CPI, TMC, AAP, etc.
They have already met S.Y.Qureshi, Former Chief Election Commissioner, Salman Khurshid, Manish Tiwari, Deepndra Hooda, Oscar Fernandes, etc of Congress TR Baalu of DMK, Nirmala Sitaraman, Yashwant Sinha of BJP, AB Bardhan of CPI, Ashok Rawat of BSP, Derek O’ Brien of TMC, KC Tyagi of JDU, Jay Panda of BJD, etc among others.
Yashwant Sinha
14 points of the Human Rights Charter:
1. Protecting the rights of communities affected by corporate-led projects.
2. Ending torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances.
3. Ending arbitrary detention and reducing excessive undertrial detention.
4. Protecting the rights of all persons in custody.
5. Ending the use of the death penalty.
6. Ensuring justice for marginalized communities who have suffered abuses.
7. Reforming the criminal justice system to better tackle violent crime.
8. Tackling all forms of violence against women more effectively.
9. Holding armed forces accountable for human rights abuses.
10. Protecting people’s rights to privacy and freedom of expression.
11. Protecting the rights of migrant workers and domestic workers.
12. Strengthening human rights institutions and protecting human rights defenders.
13. Building a culture of respect for human rights through education.
14. Adopting a more principled approach to human rights abuses around the world.