Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF) concerned over discrimination
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 09 2012:
Taking serious note of the discriminatory faced by the the people from the North East in different cities of India, Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF) has urged the authorities concerned of the Government of India to uphold the provisions of both National and International laws in order to protect the people from the interior part of the country.
Mentioning a report of the North East Support Centre and Helpline, Delhi, ZHRF said that atleast nine people from the NE region were attacked by local people since January 2012 .
In addition to facing problems of adjustment with the people of mainland India due to cultural and social norms difference, North East people living in Indian cities are bearing the brunt of physical and sexual harassments, ZHRF said.
It added that many of such attacks and assaults, especially on women from the North East India remained unrecorded due to fear of social stigma and boycott in Indian cities and from their own communities at home.
All such despicable treatment meted out to them must be stopped and condemned in most serious and highest manner, and action oriented measures must be taken up to safeguard NE people, it added.
Quoting some International laws, ZHRF said that the UN Declaration on all forms of racial discrimination provides safeguard of the reputation and personal liberty to all human beings.
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Articles 2 and 21 (1) provides every indigenous tribal people the rights to enjoy freedom and equality from any kind of discrimination in relation to health and social security, origin or identity, education, employment etc.
The said UNDRIP Article 22(2) provides every indigenous tribal people to enjoy the full protection from the State against all forms of violence and discrimination, ZHRF added.