CHRI launches two reports on alarming conditions in Indian prisons
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative has launched a set of unique reports that spotlight the dismal conditions in India’s prisons. These reports underline how a lack of review has led to alarming conditions in jails–with a huge under-trial population of which a majority is poor.
A CHRI Breakdown and Commentary on National Prison Statistics
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has released its annual report on conditions in the country’s prisons. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative’s breakdown of the NCRB figures backed up by an incisive commentary is something you won’t see elsewhere.The figures and comments in Hindi are here.
CHRI marks 25th anniversary of the Harare Declaration
CHRI called on the Secretary-General, intergovernmental institutions, 52 member governments, and all Commonwealth Accredited Organisations to mark yesterday’s anniversary by committing to actively promoting and defending the values as laid out in the Harare Declaration and Commonwealth Charter.
CHRI Deplores Attacks on RTI Activists
A few days ago the media reported yet another gruesome instance of murder of an RTI user in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police are said to have arrested two suspects including an ex-Corporator during their investigation of this incident. Scores of RTI users have lost their lives for seeking information of public interest. Hundreds have been attacked, assaulted, harassed and threatened.
CHRI with Tanzanian stakeholders launches report on better policing in Tanzania
CHRI, in cooperation with Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) and other members of Haki na Usalama Forum launched a position paper entitled "The Police and the Executive: Roles and Responsibilities" in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Most ministries, government departments fail to obey transparency directive: CHRI finds
Only four central ministries and eight departments have complied with a cabinet secretariat transparency directive to proactively publish monthly summary of their work, a CHRI study has found.
Jail mail - Revisiting Reforms Through Under Trial Review Committees
“Prison reforms have been the subject matter of discussion and decisions rendered by this Court from time to time …Unfortunately, it seems that the views of this Court over the 50 years (since Prabhakar Pandurang Sangzgiri in 1966) have continuously fallen on deaf ears and the situation does not seem to be changing even now.
EPIC- Evaluation of Prisoner Information and Cases
Under-trial prisoners constitute a significant majority of the prison population in India.However, in a huge number of cases, pre-trial detention is avoidable and unnecessary. There exist several provisions in the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (Cr.P.C.) within which release of undertrial prisoners can be sought.
CHRI Releases Updated Human Rights Advocacy Guide
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) today released an updated handbook on human rights advocacy in the Commonwealth. Our last edition was published in 2005. We work slowly but surely… That said, this recent handbook comes at a time when civil society is fast diminishing across the globe.
CHRI responds to Commonwealth watchdog’s opinion on the Maldives
The situation in the Maldives continues to worsen. But the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), the watchdog appointed by the Commonwealth to guard democratic values in member states, continues to bark but not bite. CHRI responds to the latest review of the Maldives by CMAG.