15 CSOs write to PM to ratify CAT
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 26 2019: Altogether 15 CSOs of the State, namely All Manipur Nupi Manbi Association (AMANA), Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur (CRAM), Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR), Committee on Human Rights (COHR), Manipur, Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM), Families of the Involuntary Disappeareds' Association Manipur (FIDAM), Human Rights Alert (HRA), Human Rights Initiative (HRI), Human Rights Defender Manipur (HRDM), Reach Out (RO), United Voluntary Youth Council (UVYC), United People's Front (UPF), Just Peace Foundation (JPF) and Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) have written to the Prime Minister appealing for repealing AFSA, 1958 from the State and urgent ratification of the United Nations convention against torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment.

The petition mentioned that the CSOs gathered on the occasion of the International Day in support of victims of torture 2019, at Imphal to extend full and unconditional solidarity to the thousands of torture victims.

The CSOs also strongly condemned the practice of torture which has become endemic in Manipur with the prolonged imposition of AFSPA, 1958 and urged the Central Government to repeal the Act and to ratify the United Nations convention against torture (CAT) and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment so as to fulfil its (Central Government) international obligation and to stop the despicable practice of torture in India.

It explained that the UN General Assembly adopted CAT on December 10, 1984 and India signed the CAT on October 14, 1998 but ratification of the same is due for the last 21 years, alleging that India has expressed reservations against certain provisions contained in the Convention.

It conveyed that the Indian Government initially took the stand that torture is a punishable offence but it was however to go for a standalone legislation and the Prevention of Torture Bill 2010 was introduced in the Lok Sabha to give effect to the provision of CAT.

The Rajya Sabha referred the said Bill to a select committee which proposed amendments to the Bill to make it more compliant with the CAT but the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha, it added.

The petition then explained that one Dr Ashwani Kumar filed a civil writ petition to the Supreme Court appealing it to direct the Government to have a legal framework and proper guidelines in terms of CAT to prevent torture, cruelty, inhumane or degrading treatment to jail inmates.

It also added that even the Law Commission of India, in October of 2017, recommended the ratification of CAT.

Explaining that in the Universal Periodic Review, the non-ratification of CAT has attracted maximum attention from other Governments, the CSOs informed that in the last third cycle, as many as 42 Governments have recommended its ratification and urged the Central Government to ratify CAT without any further delay.

Comment