Comments on Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021

The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on December 17, 2021. Even though the Amendment Bill proposes several significant changes which will ensure better conservation and management of wildlife, the draft still holds space for improvement. We are glad to share … Continue reading Comments on Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | September | Week 2 | 2021

“Qatar’s new electoral law to be discriminatory on the grounds of exclusion of thousands from voting or running in elections” warns HRW’s report. Click to Read More: Human Rights Watch Crackdown on journalists continues unabated as two Afghan journalists from Kabul-based newspaper Etilaatroz, get brutally tortured for covering protests by women in the Afghan capital. … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | September | Week 2 | 2021

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 3 | 2021

1. The Taliban takeover after 20 years opens floodgates for human rights violations in Afghanistan - especially towards women and other minorities. Click to read more: Reuters 2. Citing human rights violations on the ground, Manipur Human Rights Commission recommended the state to remove the “disturbed area” status, in force since Dec, 2020. Click to … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 3 | 2021

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 2 | 2021

Experts slam The Ghana government's draft anti-LGBTI Bill as being violative of a number of human rights. Click to read more: OHCHR The Indonesian army puts an end to the inhumane virginity tests on female cadets of the army. Click to read more: CNN The basic human right to a peaceful protest curbed manifoldly by … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 2 | 2021

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 4 | 2021

The Chilean government has undertaken a violative deportation process, putting a number of Venezuelan migrants and their family members at stake. The process offers no due process including the right to be heard and to present evidence.  Click to read more: Human Rights Watch Disruption in the already fragile social balance and position of women … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 4 | 2021

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 3 | 2021

Argentina recognizes non-binary identities as The National Identity Document and Passports of Argentina will now include a third gender category allowing people to choose to be designated other than female or male. Click to Read More: Human Rights Watch Six French and International Human Rights organizations file a class action lawsuit against France after it … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 3 | 2021

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | November | Week 4 | 2020

Human Rights Watch released the 100-page Cluster Munition Monitor 2020 report, stating that countries still using and producing cluster munitions should reject these indiscriminate weapons and join the international treaty banning them.  Click to Read - Human Rights Watch 120 UN member states voted in favor of a resolution in the Third Committee of the … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | November | Week 4 | 2020

Human Rights Weekly Round up – November – Week 2 – 2020

Per a recent report by Amnesty International - “Not a Private Matter”,  on the hidden but escalating problem of domestic and sexual violence against women in eastern Ukraine, survivors of domestic violence in eastern Ukraine are not able to seek protection for violence against them due to the government’s ineffective response. Click to Read - … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round up – November – Week 2 – 2020

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | November Week 1 | 2020

Vienna Terror Attack: The shooting began at 20:00 (19:00 GMT) on 2 November, when a heavily armed man opened fire on people in Vienna's popular nightlife area known as the Bermuda Triangle. The gunman was later identified as a 20-year-old “Islamist terrorist” who was released early from jail in December.  Click to Read: BBC Poland Abortion … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | November Week 1 | 2020

Human Rights Weekly Round -up | September | Week 3 | 2020

A Delhi court sent former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, arrested under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), to police custody for ten days in a case related to the communal violence in northeast Delhi in February.  Click to Read - The Wire The Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) passed two contentious farm … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round -up | September | Week 3 | 2020

UYGHURS’ GENOCIDE: MADE IN CHINA

Re-education camps also known as Orwell’s brainwashing centres  Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) or East Turkistan, in the north-western part of China now enjoys harmony in the constant watch of Big Brother. On a deeper look, the region has established buildings known as De-extensification or Re-education camps for the purpose of controlling three evil forces that are Islamic extremism, Ethnic Separatism, … Continue reading UYGHURS’ GENOCIDE: MADE IN CHINA

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | September | Week 2 | 2020

The COVID-19 crisis will dramatically increase the poverty rate for women and widen the gap between men and women who live in poverty, according to new data released by UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Click to Read - UN Women News Bosniak citizens of Montenegro say fear and anxiety pervades their … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | September | Week 2 | 2020

Human Rights Weekly Update | August | Week 3| 2020

The Supreme Court of India declared that a daughter’s right in coparcenary property – the ancestral property of a Hindu undivided family – is equal to a son’s, and that these rights can be claimed by the daughter even if her father had died before September 9, 2005, which is the date an amendment to … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Update | August | Week 3| 2020

Comments on Draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020

On 12th June 2020, The MoEFCC published the Draft EIA Notification, 2020, and sought feedback on the same from the general public within 60 days. We are happy to share with you all the Comments drafted by Contego Humanitas Foundation. Some of our primary comments flagged the dilution of the EIA notification, 2006, and substantial … Continue reading Comments on Draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 1 | 2020

1. Indian Government policy think tank NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) has released a draft document titled ‘Responsible AI for All’ for stakeholder discussion. The draft paper which was prepared for expert consultation on July 21 has invited stakeholder comments till August 10.  Click to Read - NITI Aayog 2. Tens of thousands … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 1 | 2020

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 4| 2020

1. The Delhi police imposed UAPA and blocked the website of a youth climate movement - Fridays for Future India (FFI), and described the contents of the website as “objectionable” and depicting an “unlawful or terrorist act”, after receiving a complaint by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar about multiple emails from the organization with the … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 4| 2020

How the Hong Kong Security Law Infringes Upon Fundamental Human Rights

The Hong Kong security law (or the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) that came into effect late on 30th June 2020 spells disaster for the pro-democratic city. As one of the five autonomous regions in China, the ‘one country, two systems’ policy has shielded Hong Kong from the excesses of the … Continue reading How the Hong Kong Security Law Infringes Upon Fundamental Human Rights

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 2| 2020

1. Notorious Gangster Vikas Dubey who had been arrested for killing eight police officers in Kanpur, India, was killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police wherein a vehicle in the convoy that was taking him from Ujjain to Kanpur overturned and Dubey snatched a pistol and fired at the police but the police … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 2| 2020

Democracy Encountered!

While the courts will adjudicate on the legality of Vikas Dubey’s ‘encounter’, on 10th July 2020 millions of Indians have determinedly aimed to ‘encounter’ the ‘Rule of Law’. This article, without contesting the facts of the case, simply shows a mirror to the reaction of the Indian citizenry towards this encounter. It throws light on … Continue reading Democracy Encountered!

Human Rights Weekly Roundup| July | Week 1| 2020

1. India has blocked 59 apps with Chinese links that included the hugely popular TikTok, WeChat and UC Browser, amid a huge economic backlash against China following the June 15 clashes at Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers died in action. Click to Read - NDTV 2. State authorities in Assam, have had an uphill … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Roundup| July | Week 1| 2020

Racial Discrimination Amidst COVID19: Double Whammy for the North-Eastern Community

Although India was ill-prepared to face the health and economic hazards brought in by Covid-19; it was rather oblivious to the possibility of discrimination and social intolerance emerging as an accessory to such hazards. Covid-19 has given birth to a new way of racial polarization by way of ‘hate speech’ against the north eastern community … Continue reading Racial Discrimination Amidst COVID19: Double Whammy for the North-Eastern Community

Human Rights Weekly Round-up| June | Week 4| 2020

Outrage is mounting in India over alleged torture and deaths of P Jeyaraj, 58, and his son Fenix, 38, who were arrested for allegedly keeping their stores open past permitted hours and were kept in police custody an entire night and died within hours of release; two days later owing to custodial violence. Click to … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up| June | Week 4| 2020

Philippines Anti-Terrorism Bill and the threat to human rights

On 5th June, 2020 the Philippines Government passed the Anti-Terrorism Bill, which now awaits President Duterte’s assent, after which it will effectively repeal the current Human Security Act, 2007. The military thought that the current legislation was not effective enough to counter modern terrorism which includes online recruitment of terrorists and digital planning of terrorist … Continue reading Philippines Anti-Terrorism Bill and the threat to human rights

Internet Shutdown in Kashmir: A Habitual Way of “Efficient” Governance?

  I. Introduction With the advent of 2020, the world has been pushed into a vacuity by an uninvited guest – the coronavirus. All major world economies, including India, are at a standstill due to imposition of strict lockdowns, in turn bogging down the entire global economy. Perplexingly, Kashmir was recently stuck in a three-tier … Continue reading Internet Shutdown in Kashmir: A Habitual Way of “Efficient” Governance?

Staying Home is Not Always Safe: Rise in Domestic Violence Amidst Lockdown

Introduction The spread of COVID 19 virus has caused an abrupt halt in the lives of people around the world. Due to the imposition of lockdown in various countries, the rights and civil liberties of individuals have been restrained. While poor people are finding it difficult to sustain through these testing times, there still remains … Continue reading Staying Home is Not Always Safe: Rise in Domestic Violence Amidst Lockdown

United State’s New Deportation Policy: An Inhumane Law?

The Immigrants Plight Amidst Coronavirus Imagine your life as an immigrant stuck at the US border, who fell prey to coronavirus border expulsions, where your destination is not of your choosing but merely where you could get to or where you were put. The rising xenophobia within the global leader of democracy has been shockingly … Continue reading United State’s New Deportation Policy: An Inhumane Law?

Comments on the Recommendation of Working Groups on Electoral Management

The Election Commission of India sought public comments on the Recomendation of Working Groups on Electoral Management. Glad to share with you’ll the comments drafted by Contego Humanitas Foundation. Many thanks to Harsh Bajpai who lead this research. We invite your views and comments on the same. Together, let’s make #DeshKaMahaTyohaar more inclusive. You can … Continue reading Comments on the Recommendation of Working Groups on Electoral Management

“Reforms” for whom? – The myopic labour law reforms in Uttar Pradesh

As the COVID-19 pandemic flares fast and far, affecting millions of jobs and businesses, already leaving the informal and migrant workers in dire straits (unpaid, away from homes and many dead), India’s formally employed labour force stands next in the queue. This article shall delve into the state of labourers in India, the nature of … Continue reading “Reforms” for whom? – The myopic labour law reforms in Uttar Pradesh

Comments on the Draft Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020

While we are comfortable talking about women rights and dalit rights but our community is still not very open to talk about Transgender rights. The transgender community India is one of the most marginalised be it socially, economically or politically. The Transgender (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 is though a good first step, the quest … Continue reading Comments on the Draft Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020

COVID-19 and Hungary’s indefinite state of emergency: lockdown of democracy or a step towards dictatorship?

Hungary declares indefinite state of emergency Europe is at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic with 65% of the world’s death attributable to the virus coming form this continent. Many European countries have declared a state of emergency, but there seems to be only one country that has attracted public condemnation and apprehension from the European … Continue reading COVID-19 and Hungary’s indefinite state of emergency: lockdown of democracy or a step towards dictatorship?

Update On Humanitarian Aid Provided To Rohingya Refugees & Indian Migrants In Delhi

We are elated to share that we have crossed the One Lakh Rupees mark, which is a good step towards our goal of 3 Lakh to help the Refugees in Delhi. We have successfully completed three rounds of distribution of the food ration kits and other essential supplies like sanitary napkins and milk powder (for … Continue reading Update On Humanitarian Aid Provided To Rohingya Refugees & Indian Migrants In Delhi

CORONAVIRUS & THE MIGRANTS: A RUN FOR LIFE!

The recent human flood of migrant workers flocking towards their villages was a worrisome situation for the central and the state governments. With no jobs, homes, savings, social security or ability to earn daily wages in cities, the village offered the only chance of survival. The situation not only exposed the ambiguous planning and shoddy … Continue reading CORONAVIRUS & THE MIGRANTS: A RUN FOR LIFE!

Opino Juris

COVID-19: The 9/11 for Privacy 

Credits: Naked Security sophos Impact of COVID-19 and Government Response COVID-19, a novel form of coronavirus, has already been declared as a pandemic and compared with World War II and the 2008 financial crisis. The impact of COVID-19 has been so huge that the Royal Observatory of Belgium has observed that Earth has seen a … Continue reading COVID-19: The 9/11 for Privacy 

Humanitarian Aid for Refugees & Migrants in Delhi

The ground reality in India The outbreak of COVID19 has caused acute adversity and distress world over. However, the afflictions and misery of the underprivileged sections of the society in general and refugees, in particular, remain unprecedented. Per the report of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (hereinafter UNHCR), India hosts more than 3,00,000 refugees … Continue reading Humanitarian Aid for Refugees & Migrants in Delhi

Fighting Corona Virus #Together

The COVID-19 pandemic in India has led to widespread misery and a situation of panic and distress. The times are extremely challenging especially for the daily wage workers who not only fear death due to the virus but also because of hunger owing to the 21-day lockdown. However, in these trying times, several civil society … Continue reading Fighting Corona Virus #Together

PANDEMIC OF THE NEW AGE : COVID 19

At the dawn of a new day, humanity wakes up, stretching its limbs and rubbing the awful nightmare off its eyes. Plague, war, famine had tortured millions over the millennium, remnants of the history still torturing countless souls. However, over the years, with the advancement of technology and medical sciences as well as the combined … Continue reading PANDEMIC OF THE NEW AGE : COVID 19

Corona Virus: A Silver Lining

The Corona-virus has not just threatened human life but also hit the International Political Economy like a wrecking ball. The human response to this pandemic has lead to a particularly peculiar impact on climate. Suddenly swans are calling, flowers are blooming, and dolphins are jumping. Reports from across the world sing of decreasing air and … Continue reading Corona Virus: A Silver Lining

A Warrior’s Mark: The Evils of Female Genital Mutilation

Imagine a dark and alluding room with a girl screaming behind the curtains. You know you are next in line and whatever is happening to her is going to happen to you. Adrenaline coursing through your veins, you can feel the bumps rising in fear. Her screams get louder by the second and you have … Continue reading A Warrior’s Mark: The Evils of Female Genital Mutilation

Decluttering the Rights of Manual Scavengers in India

Status quo always seems to be a comfortable place to be. All change causes some discomfort which is why societies are reluctant to change, however we must understand that our comfort in status quo is illusory. We are so used to the violence and discomfort that is being caused by the status quo that we … Continue reading Decluttering the Rights of Manual Scavengers in India

A Right to Mask?

The Hong Kong High Court has recently ruled the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation (PFCR), the so-called ‘mask ban’, unconstitutional. The ban, which was enacted by the Chief Executive in Council, aims to suppress months-long protests sparked by the Extradition Bill that allows the Hong Kong Government to extradite suspects at the request of Beijing. … Continue reading A Right to Mask?

Freedom of Expression in Myanmar: Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law

In November 2019, a court in the Botataung Township in Myanmar handed convictions against six members of a satirical Thangyat troupe. Six members of a troupe named Peacock Generation Thangyat were sentenced to a year in prison for allegedly mocking Myanmar’s armed forces through their live-streamed performance. Thangyat is one of the oldest forms of … Continue reading Freedom of Expression in Myanmar: Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law

Constitutional Frauds

“We the People of India give to ourselves this Constitution” Constitutionalism entails putting limitations on the organs of the state. It avoids the threat of an authoritarian regime by determining who can rule, how, and for what purposes. With the resignation of Devendra Fadnavis, the people, the Constitution has triumphed. There could be no better … Continue reading Constitutional Frauds

Human Rights Weekly Round-up| June| Week 4| 2019

After a six-week-long summer vacation, the Supreme Court of India reopens to hear many important and sensitive cases including Congress President Rahul Gandhi contempt case, Ayodhya Babri Masjid land dispute, and Rafale review petitions among others. Click to Read - Times Now Europe's top Human Rights organization, The Council of Europe in Strasbourg, decides to … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up| June| Week 4| 2019

India Hit With Largescale Doctors’ Strikes: Healthcare in Shambles and Its Implications

The rising violence against the fraternity of doctors all across the country has been the center of all discussions for the past week. The inception of this uproar took place last Sunday at Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, where scores of hooligans came in and assaulted the junior doctors over the … Continue reading India Hit With Largescale Doctors’ Strikes: Healthcare in Shambles and Its Implications

Dard-ae-Kashaf: Story of a Rohingya Child

The place she called Home Kashaf did not have the means to watch FRIENDS, and the few friends she had in the make-shift school in the Rakhine Province of Myanmar were also dwindling. Little did she know that her ancestors were disowned by the Myanmar Government way back in 1982.[1] Her Ammi (mother) told her … Continue reading Dard-ae-Kashaf: Story of a Rohingya Child

JUST, FAIR AND REASONABLE: A CRITIQUE OF UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES PREVENTION ACT

Aimed at the prevention of unlawful activities of associations in India, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 (the Act) was enacted with the objective of dealing with activities that were directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.  However, having been modified through stringent amendments, it has taken a harsher form than what was originally … Continue reading JUST, FAIR AND REASONABLE: A CRITIQUE OF UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES PREVENTION ACT

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 4 | 2021

Ban of 54 civil society groups threatens to seriously hamper the right to freedom of association in Uganda compounding the already afflicting restrictions on civic space. Click to Read More: Human Rights Watch Activists call for repeal of the National Plan for Special Education adopted by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro last September, to honor the … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 4 | 2021

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 1 | 2021

Kyrgiz law, targeted at false information, poses a serious threat to freedom of speech in the country by allowing anonymous government body to block content online without undergoing judicial scrutiny. Click to read more: Human Rights Watch Large protests erupt in the Indian capital New Delhi to demand justice for a minor dalit girl, victim … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | August | Week 1 | 2021

Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 2 | 2021

Danish Siddiqui, an Indian photojournalist for Thomson Reuters has been killed in Afghanistan while at work.  Danish was reporting on the latest skirmishes between Afghan Special forces and Taliban while he got caught in an ambush on the convoy near a key border with Pakistan. Several state leaders and eminent personalities have mourned the loss … Continue reading Human Rights Weekly Round-up | July | Week 2 | 2021