Professor Lawrence Sáez speaks at the United Nations
23 November 2012
Professor Lawrence Sáez from the Department of Politics at SOAS, University of London spoke at the United Nations Geneva this September to comment on the Human Rights Council’s report of the working group on the Universal Periodic Review (India) 2012.
Professor Sáez argued that India had made progress in most aspects raised in India’s previous UPR, particularly those dealing with the achievement of developmental goals. However, he noted that there were important issues where the government of India could take more proactive steps to improve its human rights record. Professor Saez called for greater transparency with respect to alleged human rights violations in Kashmir and on the treatment of Naxalite insurgents across India. He also stressed that the state should take a more active role as an actor to settle disputes relating to clashes between Muslims and tribal populations in the northeast of India.
Professor Sáez recommended that India act swiftly to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and that the Government of India should consider a comprehensive review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) or to adopt the negotiated amendments to it that would address the accountability of security personnel, the regulation concerning detentions as well as victims’ right to appeal in accordance to international standards.
