In this UN Human Rights Day special, World Sikh News takes stock of the global human rights situation, questions non-compliance of UN treaties and conventions by India and urges Sikhs to stand up for human rights for all.

70 years ago, nations as members of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948, which day is observed worldwide as UN Human Rights Day.

The adoption of the Universal declaration was a landmark achievement in nations declaring commitment towards compliance of fundamental rights of individuals without any kind of restriction whatsoever.

Undoubtedly, the declaration and many other conventions and covenants have provided the framework to monitor and review compliance of erring countries. The thoughts that strike on this Human Rights Day are disturbing and in some cases scary.

UN member nations do not officially celebrate the day, it is left to non-governmental bodies who are engaged in some kind of dispute, debate or dissent with their respective countries observe the day.

Each member country, except maybe European and Scandinavian countries can easily be held accountable on more than 70 counts of violation of the letter and spirit of the historic UN declaration. The standards of criminal jurisprudence and adoption, acceptance and ratification of UN conventions and covenants flowing from the UN declaration in European and Scandinavian countries are examples to be emulated.

“In India, torture is rampant in the criminal justice system and the legal aid system is unsatisfactory.”

60 judges report entitled, “Matter of Judgement”

South Asian and African countries observe the day more in its breach than in compliance. Their violations are not only beyond 70 in number but each country can be accused of gross, systematic and continuous abuse of basic human rights, mocking human rights defenders, ignoring the victims and belittling the United Nations.

The war mongering by mighty powers -the US and Russia, the unnecessary intervention in other countries by Gulf countries, the cross-border intervention by communities and nations, the total denigration and debunking of the UN Right to self-determination of struggling nationalities bothers civil rights activists, humanitarian aid agencies and affects the lives of millions.

How does the UN or any of its members including those claiming to be the biggest democracies in the world, remain silent to ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims by Ang San Sui Kyi’s Myanmar? How amateurish it is for Donald Trump to unilaterally declare Jerusalem to the capital of Israel, fuelling further hatred and attacks against the already beleaguered Palestinians? Why are many African countries, like Somalia, still struggling for two square meals a day for their population, resulting in developed countries taking sides and jeopardising peace in the region?

“The shocking public hate murders of Muslims and Dalits, with videos circulating prime time in India on various social media platforms, with the leadership of the country silent in acquiescent will take the Indian social fabric into an unending labyrinth of darkness, coming out of which may take decades.”

Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh look to India. Like India, the malaise of injustice and impunity continues in these countries too at various levels and for various sections of their populations.

Nearer home, India is at its classic best. On 8 December 2017, 60 former judges in their report “Matter of Judgement” said, “Torture is rampant in the criminal justice system and the legal aid system is unsatisfactory.” In its latest report submitted in October 2017, India’s Law Commission recommended, “consideration of the Convention Against Torture for ratification” to curb the menace of torture and to have a deterrent effect on acts of torture. When asked about torture of British nationals Jagtar Singh Jaggi and Jimmy Singh, India’s official response was a staid generic statement given out every time it is laid on the mat, “We do not torture.” Need one say more.

When it comes to Punjab and Kashmir, the good cross-section of the Indian media parrots Indian government’s version perpetuating disinformation and misinformation, makes videos or borrows police videos of any of the accused in police custody and broadcasts these as exclusive stories, justifying the illegality and unlawful working of the police, the investigating agencies, including the new block on the horizon -India’s National Investigation Agency in the eyes of a dull public. Will the mainstream media ever stand up for human rights?

Junkets of Indian judges and politicians go to monitor polls in other countries, but India steadfastly refuses to allow official delegations of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to visit Punjab, Kashmir and the Northeast. Too many skeletons in the cupboard?

The shocking public hate murders of Muslims and Dalits, with videos circulating prime time in India on various social media platforms, with the leadership of the country silent in acquiescent will take the Indian social fabric into an unending labyrinth of darkness, coming out of which may take decades.

“To the Sikhs in Punjab and Diaspora, Sarbat da Bhala does not stop at humanitarian work alone, it is time to go beyond. Human Rights is not just Sikh rights. It is time to stand up for the rights of the African students in Punjab, time to reach out to Dalits in Punjab.”

It is time to catch the bull by its horns. The UN should give more teeth to itself, actionable and advisory. The Nobel Prize of Ang San Sui Kyi must be withdrawn in view of her total failure to protect the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and her inability to answer legitimate enquiries of the international community. All countries, including India that allow and tolerate torture must face UN opprobrium.

On this Human Rights Day, World Sikh News acknowledges the role of human rights defenders. A big thank you to Amnesty International for continuing the campaign for justice for victims of November 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom. Punjabis are grateful to Japanese professor, Dr. Tomio Mizokami and Karnakata born Punjabi lover Dr. Prof. Pandit Rao Darennavar for popularising Punjabi, Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur for boldly taking up cases of individuals whose rights are violated, Advocate Navkiran Singh and his associates for obtaining details of the Sirsa dera, Advocate Bhagat Singh in Madurai for leading the campaign for Tamil as official language of the Tamil Nadu High Court and various organisations who are boldly documenting human rights violations in Punjab, Kashmir, Northeast and various other parts of India

To the Sikhs in Punjab and Diaspora, Sarbat da Bhala does not stop at humanitarian work alone, it is time to go beyond. Human Rights is not just Sikh rights. It is time to stand up for the rights of the African students in Punjab, time to reach out to Dalits in Punjab. Students bodies need to take up social and civil rights of women, labourers, environment and other causes.  

On the occasion of 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us take 70 steps during the course of the year for creating more awareness of human rights protection worldwide as part of our role and commitment in doing our bit for honouring and upholding human rights in the world. Join the UN movement, speak about and stand up for rights of people with whom you disagree. Recall the work of the Ninth Master Guru Tegh Bahadur who stood up for protection of a religion he did not practice.

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World Sikh News says, Honour Human Beings, Honour Human Rights. Are you ready, Take the first step, today!