April 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1429

NEW YORK, April 7: The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) should insist that the Indian government take strong steps to hold accountable members of its security forces responsible for torture, arbitrary detentions, killings, and “disappearances,” particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Manipur, the Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

The UNHRC should also demand that the government fulfil its responsibility to protect and support vulnerable communities, including Dalits, tribal groups, religious minorities and women, the HRW demanded.

India’s human rights record will come under the first-ever Universal Periodic Review (UPR) when the HRC meets in Geneva on April 10.

“India is a vibrant electoral democracy with an abysmal human rights record,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Victims of abuse in India are counting on the UN Human Rights Council to put maximum pressure on the government to address these problems.”

India has repeatedly refused to substantively engage with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, disputing its claim that discrimination on the ground of caste is fully covered by the International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the New York-based watchdog group said.

“As the world’s largest democracy, India should set the standard for the Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council,” said Mr Adams.