This report of a 5-member group of prominent Indian former government officials and civil society leaders was presented to the Indian Home Minister based on a visit to Kashmir. The report finds that Kashmiris believe India has failed them, that India lacks humanity, that India fails to acknowledge reality and the fact of political problems in Kashmir, and that the people are angry, have no hope in India and are fearless (particularly the young).

Topics: anger against India, despair and lack of fear among youngsters, worse yet to come, process of finding a solution, problems of minorities- Sikhs and Shias

Terms: denial of right to self-determination, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA), excessive use of force, use of pellet guns, maiming, civil unrest, state negligence, mass violation of human rights, inter-state conflict, failure of state institutions

India is “Not Free”, with a score of 28/100 (8/40 for Political Rights and 20/60 for Civil Liberties). Indian Kashmir’s status declined from Partly Free to Not Free due to the Indian government’s abrupt revocation of the region’s autonomy, the postponement or elimination of legislative elections, and a security crackdown that sharply curtailed civil liberties and included mass arrests of local politicians and activists.

Topics: potential ethnic cleansing, access to information and internet, freedom of assembly, minority rights, electoral freedom, political pluralism and participation, government functioning, freedom of expression and belief, associational and organisational rights, rule of law, personal autonomy and individual rights

‍Terms: internet shutdowns, right to freedom of assembly, right to free and fair elections, right to freedom of speech, right to political self-determination, right to dissent, abrogation of article 370 and article 35A

This report by the US Department of State finds many significant human rights issues continue to exist in India and that despite government efforts to address abuses, a lack of accountability for official misconduct persisted at all levels of government which contributes to widespread impunity. It also finds that there is widespread corruption in the government among, media censorship issues, violations of religious freedom and violence and discrimination towards minorities.

Topics: Respect for the integrity of the person- including freedom from arbitrary deprivation of life, disappearance, torture, arbitrary detention, denial of fair public trial, abuses in internal conflict, arbitrary interference with privacy, respect for civil liberties such as freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of movement, status and treatment of internally displaced persons, protection of refugees, stateless persons, freedom to participate in the political process, corruption and lack of transparency in government, governmental attitude regarding international investigations of alleged abuses of human rights, discrimination, societal abuses and trafficking in persons, persons with disabilities, members of minority groups, worker rights, forced or compulsory labour, child labour, employment discrimination

Terms: unlawful and arbitrary killings, torture, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrest, arbitrary detention, political prisoners, violation of free expression, violation of free press, arrest and intimidation of journalists, censorship, site blocking, violations of political rights, corruption, failure to investigate, failure of accountability, denial of free religion, discrimination, forced labor, enforced disappearances, denial of due process, denial of right to a fair trial

This is a communication from the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances and five UN Special Rapporteurs (on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, situation of human rights defenders, right to privacy, and protection of human rights while countering terrorism) to the Government of India expressing grave concern over raids by Indian agents against human rights defenders and journalists including Parveena Ahangar, Khurram Parvez, Parvaiz Ahmad Bukhari.

Topics: enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, human rights defenders, privacy, abuse of counter-terrorism measures, intimidation, reprisals, journalism

Terms: National Investigation Agency (NIA), Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), Athrout, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), Greater Kashmir, Parveena Ahangar, Khurram Parvez, Parvaiz Ahmad Bukhari, Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)

Article Summary: This is a letter by the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons to various UN working groups, special rapporteurs, and the UN voluntary fund for victims of torture, expressing grave concern on the likelihood of reprisal arising out of the seizure of confidential victim information during a recent NIA raid on APDP’s office. The letter also includes multiple pictures of the raid that took place.  The letter requests urgent intervention by the UN.

Topics: attacks on human rights defenders, denial of access to justice, reprisal against victims, failure of the UN

Terms: fear of reprisal, National Investigation Agency (NIA), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Parveena Ahangar, harassment of human rights defenders, initimidation, warrantless search, warrantless seizure, criminalization of human rights work, Indian state disinformation