26th June 2012
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) joins human rights activists around the World, in commemorating the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This year, the day marks the 25th anniversary of United Nations Convention Against Torture coming into effect.
Despite the fact that this Convention has been in force for a quarter century, only 147 States are party to it. Of the South Asian states, all but Bhutan have signed it, and India is yet to ratify the Convention.
Shillong, May 31: India’s apex human rights panel Thursday said it has no jurisdiction to recommend to the state governments to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), but has asked them to consider review of the controversial legislation.
“The state governments have to take a decision to repeal the act as it is a policy decision. The NHRC has, therefore, never recommended for its repeal,” National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice (retd) KG Balakrishnan told journalists here Wednesday night.