Press Release on India UPR Submission Review
5th June 2012, Aizawl
India Universal Periodic Review in the 13th Session on 21 May-2 June 2012 was discussed today on 5th June 2012 at Aizawl by different organizations. Government of India was represented by a nineteen member strong inter-ministerial delegation headed by Mr. Goolam E. Vahanvati, Attorney General of India. Eighty governments spoke and a draft report of the review adopted by the Working Group on UPR on 30 May 2012 (document A/HRC/WG.6/13/L.8) list 169 recommendations.
The review highlighted the process and as the viewpoint of Mizoram State on the India presented of how much he welcomed, developing of it caring, understanding and non-discrimination of all minorities including refugees, any religions and others seem not realistic and not accurate as on the refugee situation living in India including women and children still facing sexual harassment and unequal treatment in jobs, discrimination from employees, police mass arrested still practicing and charged as foreigner act.
During its hosting many more unrecognized and few recognized refugees, India has no national legislation and clear policy regarding to refugee. So the review groups having felt to push India must have its national legislation or policy on this issue.
The groups also reviewed of one submission recommendation no.2 on the indigenous people issue of India not recognized with its real name as Indigenous people and called or given in other name as Dalit/Adivasi or tribal people. Therefore we did concern of India needing to change the name given or call for it exact name.
We strongly urge the government of India to accept the following recommendation:
- As recommended by Ghana, UNHCR and Zo Indigenous Forum, WGHR, to ratify Convention relating to the status of Refugee 1951 and its protocol 1967.
- As recommended by Iraq and Ghana, to ratify ILO Conventions No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries
- Invite Special Rapporteur on the rights of the Indigenous to visit India pending till 2008 and other pending request.
- As recommended by Slovakia supported by Switzerland and France, Zo Indigenous Forum, UNM-M, IFJ/HRFJK and JS13 repealed the drconisn law of Armed Forces Special Power Act 1935.
Issued by Human Rights Law Network, Mizoram, Chin Human Rights Organisation,
Zo Indigenous Forum