Amnesty International releases human rights charter for Karnataka elections

The organisation is calling for political parties to include six key human rights goals in their election manifestos. (DH file photo from an event for LGBT rights)

Amnesty International India on Friday released a human rights charter for political parties taking part in the Karnataka Assembly elections 2018. The organisation is calling for political parties to include six key human rights goals in their election manifestos.

"For any political party, an election manifesto is a declaration of the commitments it makes to all people," said Asmita Basu, Programmes Director of Amnesty International India. "Through our human rights charter, we are urging all political parties to commit to make human rights a key part of their agenda, and to improve the state’s human rights record," Basu told Deccan Herald.

Human rights goals

The goals focus on constitutional rights. They include:

1. Protection of the freedom of expression and privacy.

2. Ending discrimination based on gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

3. Ensuring justice for those who face abuse due to their caste or religion.

4. Improving the functioning of the criminal justice system.

5. Strengthening human rights institutions and protecting human rights defenders.

6. Building a culture of respect for human rights through education.

The major demands in the charter are police reform, state amendments to IPC Section 124A (sedition), Section 377 (unnatural offences) and IPC Section 375 (rape).

The charter calls on the new government to ensure the effective implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. It also asks the government to take steps to reduce excessive undertrial detention and repeal the Karnataka Goondas Act, 1985.

Other demands include filling all vacancies in the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission and integration of human rights education into school syllabi and teacher training courses.

The charter also calls for the full implementation of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

"These issues are by no means exhaustive, and effective action will need collaboration with other relevant authorities, including the central government," said Amnesty International India in their statement.

Incidents increasing

Basu told DH that there is a steady increase in violence against religious minorities and human rights defenders in India.

"Across the country, there has been an increase in the demonisation of religious minorities and human rights defenders," said Basu. "Freedom of expression has come under attack, and people continue to face discrimination and violence on the basis of their gender, caste and religion. The lack of response from authorities has exacerbated the situation."

Rights violations right here

Amnesty International notes that there have been many human rights violations in Karnataka.

"Karnataka has also witnessed a range of human rights abuses, ranging from attacks on human rights defenders such as Gauri Lankesh, violations of freedom of expression, deaths of people employed in manual scavenging, excessive pre-trial detention and sexual harassment of women garment workers," said Basu.

It is not the first time that Amnesty International India has released a human rights election charter. "We had published a similar charter in 2014 ahead of the national elections, and will be publishing similar charters for other state elections and the national election," said Basu.

The full charter is here.