Regional Convention on 26th June, International Day in Support of Victims https://picasaweb.google.com/sshirinkhan/RegionalConvention?auth

https://picasaweb.google.com/sshirinkhan/RegionalConvention?authkey=Gv1sRgCKOshO2B482ylQE#

Lucknow Declaration by Regional Convention on 26th June, International Day in Support of Victims of Torture at Ravindralaya, Lucknow, India

We, the Regional Convention at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in India, desiring that State embodies the aspirations of the People, aver the need for greater efforts for promoting the sovereignty of the People through democratic values and structures based on nonviolence and justice.

We uphold social democracy and economic equity through sustainable development.

We advocate optimum and equitable utilization of resources for the benefit of the people, providing them adequate forum to influence and participate in decisions on natural resource use and management.

We reaffirm the inalienable right of the People of India to basic needs including food, clothing, shelter, health, education, social security and productive work as dignity of labour.

Democracy

We cherish and uphold the Rule of Law, sovereignty of the people, a system of governance that ensures devolution of power, People’s right to self rule and control over natural resources.

We advocate full independence of the judiciary, adhering to internationally recognized values and principles. People beneficial lawmaking process has to be participatory, representative and fully transparent.



We believe that People have sovereign rights to take decisions on matters concerning their lives, and urge periodic review of all international commitments and national laws to enable people to exercise sovereignty.

We maintain that governance improvements have to begin and end with the People and that their empowerment can result only when power is devolved through effective structural changes in character of Shraman Culture[i] based on justice, nonviolence and rule of law.

We also maintain that existing social, economic and political imbalances hinder nation-building and that the legislature, executive and the judiciary must be fully accountable to the People.

We uphold the information right to people through participation in decision-making and governance.

To organize a force in against and oppose the attempt of the Saffron brigade to saffronise the rainbow culture of the country. We strongly support the pluralism of our Nation and are determined not to allow anyone to destroy the pluralistic atmosphere of the country.

Fight State and non-state actors’ suppression on the right to ex-pression with democratic mindset to put them right.

Equal, Secular, Free Compulsory elementary education is the responsibility of the government and the gimmicks with education should be stopped.

Struggle to enact the anti- torture legislation and to ratify the UN convention against torture by India.


Discrimination

We affirm that discrimination based on gender, caste, creed, religion, ethnicity and disability is a major obstacle to meaningful participation of People in political, economic and social field.

We call for patriarchy-free secular India, and support the individual’s right to self-determination and development and uphold their duty to national integration.

Demand laws and their enforcement in regard to bonded labour,child labor , sexual harassment, discrimination based on caste & gender and attack on minority.

We resolve for an immediate and effective end to untouchability, the worst form of discrimination and demand interventions as follows to take in politics:

· Programs for the uplift of the Dalits and mechanisms to empower them for defend their rights.

· Reservations(affirmative action), in public as well as the private sector, to ensure participation of all at all levels starting from primary schooling and across all spheres of life.

· Reservations to enable at least 33% representation of women in all spheres of private and public life.

· Discrimination to be considered a real life problem.
Review of existing laws and modifications to incorporate the implementation of international instruments.

· To implement the recommendation of report of Sachchar’ Committee[ii] and Justice Rangnath Mishra[iii] on Muslim minority.

Food sovereignty

We believe the right to food is a fundamental right and must be assured through guarantees to equality in work, justice, uniform minimum wages and land reform.

We advocate that all aid and trade agreements and legal instruments be subject to public scrutiny to ensure their transparency and accountability.

Demand National law for landless agricultural laborers and domestic workers as skill workers.

Ensure purchase of weavers and farmers produce while the ‘Public distribution System’ prices should be brought at half of present process.

Provide homes to the homeless and provide shelter to the homeless in urban areas.



Organizing Organization: Dynamic Action Group (DAG), Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Voice of People (VOP), National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT), Right to food & work, Uttar Pradesh, Detention Watch





Co-operative organization: Sathi, Tarun Chetana. Gramya, Roji Roti Sangathan, Dalit Mahasangh. Disha Sanstha, Jagriti Seva Sansthan. Bundelkhand Seva Parishad, PUCL, Dr. Ambedkar Social Welfare Society, Sanchetana, Sikhar Prashikshan Sansthan, Dwaba Vikas Sansthan, Human Right Law Network, , C.E.R.T, Jan Adhikar Manch, Jan Sikhan Kendra, Gramya Swaraj Samiti, Kanhar Bachao Andolan, Mushar Vikas Manch. Gramin Yuwa evam Bal Vikas Parishad, Pani, INSAF- Uttar Pradesh, Swaraj Uthan Samiti, Institute of Social Development Trust, Sangram, Bahujan Kalyan Parishad, Astitwa, Roja, Manav VIkas Parishad, Aman – Uttar Pradesh, Sonbhadra Vikas Samiti, O.M India, Parmarth, Pahuch Vikas manch, Apada Niwaran Manch. Savitir Bai Phule Women’s Forum, Rojgar Haq Abhiyan, Prerana Kala Manch, Anyay Ke Khilaf Morcha,Wada Foundation,UP Gramin Evam Khetihar Mazdoor Union,UP Sahari Garib Kamgar Sangharsh Morcha,Vigyan Foundation,Shahari Garib Morcha,Mahila federation,Dehat,Asian Bridge-India,Adiwasi Mahila Vikas samiti.

Protect children in Jammu and Kashmir

http://www.amnesty.org/en/protect-children-jammu-kashmir

Despite an obligation under international law to treat anyone below 18 as a child, police in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) continue to jail 16- and 17-year old boys as adults!

17-year old Murtaza Manzoor was detained without charge by the police in January 2011. He was held for nearly four months in a prison that had no special facilities for children.

Although India has amended its national juvenile justice law to make it consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the law in the state of J&K has not yet been updated.

Murtaza is not alone. Many other boys aged between 16 and 18 years are falling through the cracks in J&K’s juvenile justice laws and being treated as adults.

The Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah, has recognised the need for reform in this area. To make sure these reforms happen, we need you to urge the Chief Minister to begin by amending the Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice Act (JKJJA) in the 2011 Monsoon session of the J&K Assembly.

Help protect children in Jammu and Kashmir

Help protect children in Jammu and Kashmir
When teenage boys turn 16 in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India they suddenly face a new threat. If they get arrested, they are treated as adults while according to international law only those above 18 should be.

Raheel Khursheed, who recently joined an Amnesty International Twitter campaign to demand the release of a teenager said, “The government has to decide whether the approach of talking to these young people should be humane or whether they want to go down as a government that uses legal brutality.”

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice Act (JKJJA) teenage boys above 16 are adults and the government routinely locks them up in adult prisons in harsh conditions. There is a real need for reform in the area of juvenile justice and this has been recognised by the J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah himself.

By signing this petition you can ensure that Omar Abdullah keeps his word. We will deliver your signatures to him ahead of the monsoon session of the J&K Assembly in September.

Join Amnesty International's campaign to make the adult age 18 so that the JKJJA becomes compatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Take Action: http://j.mp/miI70Y