View: Pakistan's quest for a National Human Rights Commission

This is a formative moment for Pakistan. A national institution is about to be created in a country where, for decades, civil society has been the sole proactive challenge to the state on human rights violations.

Uttarakhand Police Complaints Authority - Victim of Political Apathy

The leadership of the government of Uttarakhand has been extremely vocal about the establishment of the Lokayukta and State Human Rights Commission.

Uhuru's Choice: either rule by consent or continue coercion

The British ruled Kenyan by coercion—massive coercion. The police were established not to protect the people or their rights (as in most countries) but to subjugate and exploit them.Coercion became the lasting British legacy to Kenya.

Train the Cops on Crowd Control

Bangladesh police have once again found themselves the subject of legal scrutiny. Police firings across three districts this week resulted in the death of five people and left many more severely injured.

Too many Chulbul Pandeys

Chulbul Pandey rides again. Already a national hero in Abhinav Kashyap's Dabangg, he is brash, violent and openly corrupt, but audiences are lining up to see him in action in the sequel, Dabangg 2.For Chulbul, the uniform is the ticket to unbridled power.

Time for Uganda to enact anti-torture legislation

Despite frequent and widespread reports of torture by various human rights bodies, including the Uganda Human Rights Commission and the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims, the actual criminal offence of torture does not exist in Uganda.

The politics of labeling

Erica Jong had once said: “Every nation gets the circus it deserves. Spain gets bullfight. Italy the Church. America Hollywood.” India Prime Time TV.

The Emperor's New Clothes - the new Commonwealth Charter and CHOGM in Sri Lanka

Last week was the Commonwealth week. As the Commonwealth begins celebrations on the theme “Opportunity through enterprise” it may see its own opportunities and credibility dwindle to zero by the time its prestigious Heads of Government Meeting is held in Sri Lanka this November.

The Emperor's New Clothes - the new Commonwealth Charter and CHOGM in Sri Lanka

Last week was the Commonwealth week.  As the Commonwealth begins celebrations on the theme ‘opportunity through enterprise’ it may see its own opportunities and credibility dwindle to zero by the time its prestigious Heads of Government Meeting is held in Sri Lanka this November.

The arrest and freedom of little Ariful

We know them well, the Bengali Indian kids in Norway, captive to foster care and foreign norms of child rearing.  But no one knows Ariful because, except for the occasional court order here and there, our own home-grown ways of child protection are often placed beyond question.