Citizens for Justice and Peace
Fr. Stan Swamy: The Jharkhand Priest who made People his Religion Human Rights Defender Profile
31-Aug-2018
On the morning of August 28 just as the people of Ranchi city were waking up to a clear sky after heavy downpours in the previous days, and preparing themselves for the day’s chores, they were taken aback by the abrupt raid on the home of Father Stan Swamy, one of the city’s prominent social…
Rights Groups come together to condemn Activists’ Arbitrary Arrests Issue statement calling for repeal of draconian UAPA
30-Aug-2018
More than 35 rights groups convened a press conference on Wednesday, August 29, condemning the arrests of prominent human rights activists in simultaneous multi-city raids on Tuesday, August 28. The organisations have issued a joint statement, saying that they “condemn the appalling state actions of reprisals against noted human rights activists and intellectuals, which are…
Sudha Bharadwaj’s Remarkable Journey: From Trade Unionist and Lawyer to ‘Urban Naxal’ Human Rights Defender Profile
29-Aug-2018
Sudha Bharadwaj, born in 1961, has been associated with the trade union movement in Chhattisgarh for more than 25 years. She is the general secretary of the Chhattisgarh unit of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), and a member of Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS). After living and working in Bilaspur for several years,…
Pune Police forcibly detain activist Sudha Bhardawaj Advocate Vrinda Grover alleges sheer contempt of Punjab & Haryana HC
29-Aug-2018
In a shocking breach of law and procedure, in fact out and out contempt of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, the Pune police thwarted the stay granted against the transit remand of Sudha Bhardwaj and till well past midnight attempted to forcibly whisk her away to Pune. Advocate Sudha Bharadwaj, renowned for her…
Damodar Turi’s battle in Jharkhand Human Rights Defender
28-Jun-2018
Damodar Turi has been at the forefront of several protests against forced land acquisition and displacement of Adivasi communities in Jharkhand. He was arrested on February 15 (2018) from Ranchi under the UAPA Act and later put into solitary confinement on March 23 (2018) along with other activists. As per the law, solitary confinement of…
Death of a Rationalist: Gauri Lankesh Fearless journalist silenced for defying right wing extremists
13-May-2018
Gauri Lankesh was a fearless journalist and a rationalist, who never minced words while calling out the bigotry and misogyny of right wing extremists. She was shot dead by a man with alleged links to a radical Hindutva organisation in September 2017. As the Saffron brigade busies itself in a nationwide do or die battle for…
Babasaheb Ambedkar: A Man Far Ahead of His Times Human Rights Defender Profile
14-Apr-2018
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on April 14, 127 years ago. Here is a brief look at the life and work of the man who grew up to be an eminent jurist, economist, social reformer, and is widely considered to be the Father of India’s Constitution. Early life Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891…
HS Doreswamy: The Man who won’t Give Up Human Rights Defender Profile
10-Apr-2018
Harohalli Srinivasaiah Doreswamy, life-long social activist, turns 100 today. Born on April 10, 1918, Doreswamy has credited his life motto–”A social worker should embrace voluntary poverty”–to Mahatma Gandhi’s My Early Life, which Doreswamy read as a teenager. Starting with India’s struggle for independence, Doreswamy has not only been witnessed, but has been an active part of several major activist…
Who was Periyar? Human Rights Defender Profile
06-Mar-2018
Erode Venkata Ramasamy, popularly known as ‘Periyar’, was a social reformer who advocated equal rights for people of all castes, economic backgrounds and genders. He is best known for starting the Self Respect movement and founding the Dravidar Kazhagam. Born in Erode village in Coimbatore district on September 17, 1879, he spoke Tamil, Telugu…
“Nothing About Us, Without Us” Noted disability rights activist Javed Abidi passes away
05-Mar-2018
Disability rights activist Javed Abidi passed away on Sunday, March 4, 2018, reportedly due to a chest infection. He was 53. Abidi’s advocacy has been key to several other major developments in the field of disability rights, including India’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, the establishment of a separate department…