The Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act should be repealed, says Margaret Sekaggya, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders. “The Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act should be repealed and application of other security laws which adversely affect the work and safety of human rights defenders should be reviewed,” she told a press conference.
Ms Sekaggya was speaking to media after concluding a 10-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, West Bengal, Assam and Orissa. She met government officials, including home secretary G.K. Pillai and foreign secretary Nirupama Rao.
She said human rights is being violated both by “state and non-state actors” in India, which, she noted, needs to “do lot more” in preserving human rights.
In her preliminary report, the official expressed satisfaction over India’s “comprehensive and progressive legal framework” which guarantees human rights and fundamental freedom as enshrined in the Constitution. “I welcome the commitment expressed by Indian authorities to uphold human rights. I further welcome the draft Bill on the Prevention of Torture with a view to ratify the Convention Against Torture in the near future,” Ms Sekaggya said. India has mechanisms to ensure protection of human rights, but their implementation in the states and by the Centre was not satisfactory, she observed.
About Jammu and Kashmir, Ms Sekaggya said, “The issue in Kashmir is about people. It is important to address the real issues of people there. There should be efforts heal their wounds.” She welcomed the appointment of interlocutors by the Indian government, and termed it as a “good process.”