**
**
* *
*/_National People’s Tribunal on Torture in India_/*
*/_ _/*
*17 October 2008 - 11 AM to 9 PM – At the Constitutional Club , Rafi
Marg, New Delhi***
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends, Colleagues and supporters in the Protection and
promotion of human rights,
The *National Project on Preventing Torture in India (NPPTI)*, supported
by the European Union and the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, has been
implemented by People's Watch . Operating in 47 districts across 9
States, the Project seeks the* prevention and reduction of torture in
India*. Its efforts will culminate in mid-October with a national-level
People’s Tribunal on Torture, which forms the subject of this letter.
The NPPTI’s fact-finding data, when extrapolated, suggest that 1.8
million people fall victim to police torture each year in India. In most
of these cases, it is the vulnerable sections of the society –
particularly women, religious minorities, members of lower castes, and
the poor – that are targeted. Many *victims fear further prosecution or
retribution*, and so suffer in silence.
Meanwhile, India boasts a staggering 125 statutorily created
human-rights institutions. Whether through unwillingness or inability,
however, these *institutions are all too often unresponsive* to the
clear evidence of torture presented to them by victims or by
organisation acting on victims’ behalf.
In addition, as regards torture, India operates within a *legal void*.
India signed the UN /Convention Against Torture/ (CAT) in 1997, but ten
years later the same has not yet been ratified ; the CAT’s Optional
Protocols (OPCAT) remain unsigned. This deficiency was noted by a
number of stakeholders during the Human Rights Council’s recent
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of India, and formed a major portion of
the UPR’s conclusions in relation to India. At the domestic level, there
is no legislative definition of torture, nor is there a law identifying
torture as a crime. There is neither a system for victim and witness
protection.. The Supreme Court of India has acted to condemn torture by
developing jurisprudence that outlines best practices for police and
other state actors, but the legislature has not responded by codifying
these practices into law.
These three elements – fear among victims, institutional paralysis, and
legislative inaction – have fostered the creation of a *culture of
impunity*. Such impunity ensures that police torture remains prevalent
across India.
To date, nine State-level PTTs have been held as follows:
*State*
*PTT Location*
*No. of Cases Slated for Deposition*
*Dates*
*Kerala*
Trivandrum
34
1-3 April 2008
*Uttar Pradesh*
Varanasi
78
28-29 April 2008
*Tamil Nadu*
Madurai
260
29-31 May 2008
*West Bengal***
Kolkata
75
9-10 June 2008
*Bihar***
Patna
36
9-10 July 2008
*Rajasthan*
Ajmer
50
15-16 July 2008
*Orissa*
Bhubaneswar
32
5-6 August 2008
*Karnataka*
Bengaluru
98
12-13 August 2008
*Andhra Pradesh*
Hyderabad
25
30–31 August 2008
*_A National-_**_Level People’s Tribunal on Torture in New Delhi on
17^th October 2008 from 11AM to 9 PM at the Constitutional Club, Rafi
Marg , New Delhi : _*
The nine State-level PTTs have laid the foundation and prepared public
opinion for the staging of a *national-level PTT in New Delhi on 17
October 2008*.
The National PTT shall be inaugurated by Justice VR Krishna Iyer, Former
Judge, Supreme Court of India.
The *Jury Members* for this national-level PTT which also include a
number of international experts shall be chaired by Justice Shivraj
Patil, Former Judge Supreme Court of India and Former Acting Chair of
the National Human Rights Commission of India.
*_Schedule of Events_**_ _**_(See attached invitation )_*
*_This is an Invitation specially for you : _*
With this letter, *the organisers of the **NPPTI would formally like to
invite you to this National-level People’s Tribunal on Torture in
India*. We hope that you will accept this exciting opportunity to
effect genuine changes that will not only help individual victims of
torture but also secure the rights of all Indian citizens. Kindly do
make sure that as many persons from you office do attend the NPTT
sessions or any of the sessions and some of them remain throughout the
day in solidarity.
*_In Closing_*
We look forward to your response to this letter confirming your
participation and approximate number, and we hope that you consider the
national-level PTT to be as exciting a prospect for India as we do. In
the meanwhile, please feel free to contact us with any and all
questions, comments, or concerns at any of the coordinates printed on
the first page. ( [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Mobile : 91 -
98940 25859 Sunila Singh : [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 91 -
9910272509 )
With warm regards,
Henri Tiphagne
National Director, National Project on Preventing Torture in India
Executive Director, People’s Watch
