De-briefing of civil society team who participated in the 26th UN Human Rights Council

July 6, 2014:

The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Rashida Manjoo, who visited Manipur on 28 April last year presented her report to the 26th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on 12 June 2014. She recommended, as a matter of urgency, the repeal of the AFSPA. The Government of India reacted harshly, claiming that it lacks “full objectivity and exhibits a tendency to over-simplify the issues”. In her concluding statement the Rapportuer mentioned her visit to Manipur and lamented that this was her 14th or 15th country visit but never have she been subjected to such humiliating treatment and attitude as done by the Government of India during and after her mission.

Civil society groups from Manipur also actively participated during the interactive dialogue following the presentation of her report.

Babloo Loitongbam took the floor on behalf of the Common Wealth Human Rights Initiative and welcomes the report on behalf of the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN. He appreciated that the report “aptly outlines the due diligence obligations by the state to address not just the manifestations of violence – but most importantly its causes and consequences, so that social transformation becomes possible”.

Sobita Mangshatabam, speaking on behalf of the Social Service Agency of Protestant Church in Germany and others, quoted from the report that “women in militarized region (…) live in constant state of siege and surveillance, whether in their homes or in public” and provided further insights using the experience of North East India. She asserted that “rape and sexual and physical harassment of indigenous women by the army personnel was used as an instrument of war”.

Thangjam Dolendro Meitei, taking the floor during the interactive dialogue following the presentation of the report by the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, narrated the story of his sister Thangjam Manorama. He wondered why the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is used to protect the very criminals who raped and murdered his sister for the last ten years.

Over and above these two-minutes-direct-oral-interventions, the civil society group also organized side events on 11 and 12 June 2011 to explain in details the human rights situation in particular Manipur to the interested participant of the Council. A film entitled Claiming Justice: Women’s Struggle Against Impunity in NE India by HRA and EEVFAM was also screened.

Closely following this debate in the Human Rights Council, India was again reviewed by the UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on 2 July 2014. In may be noted that the United NGO Mission Manipur submitted an alternate report to the CEDAW Committee.

In relation to AFSPA, the expert Mrs. Pramila Patten (Mauritius) was the leading voice. She asked what priority is given to the Justice Verma-Report, what is the new government’s position in relation to AFSPA, and the permission to have trials against army personal in the framework of AFSPA.

The government delegation argued mainly with the operational needs of the army, that in some areas it would be necessary to protect armed forces in order to be effective, although there should be no misuse. The government is continuously surveying AFSPA, and misuse of the regulation would be accordingly prosecuted. For the moment, it would not be possible to repeal AFSPA. In addition, large areas in Manipur have been taken out from the enforcement via AFSPA.

Mrs. Patten (and later on others) got back to AFSPA saying that they are not convinced, in particular having the Justice Verma-Report as source which again was quoted. But no additional explanation was given by the government delegation.

Read the individual statement of Sobita Mangshatabam, Thangjam Dolendro Meitei and Rashida Manjoo here

Also watch the statement from UN TV here
and
here


Babloo Loitongbam
Human Rights Alert
Kwakeithel Thiyam Leikai
Imphal – 795001, Manipur, India
Phone : +91 385 2448159
Email : hramanipur(at)gmail(dot)com