Tackling key domestic human rights issues

BANGALORE: Bangalore International Centre will hold a discussion on ‘Can India be a Global Leader on Human Rights?’ by Salil Shetty, secretary general, Amnesty International at BIC Auditorium, TERI Complex, 4th Main, 2nd cross, Domlur II stage, on September 3, at 6 pm. The discussion will be chaired by Justice M N Venkatachaliah, former chief justice of India.About the talkIndia has many positive institutional arrangements-a functioning constitution, a thriving multi-party democracy, an independent judiciary, vibrant media and an active civil society. The country needs to ensure that its current institutions constructively tackle key domestic human rights questions; it must ensure accountability for the acts of its police and security forces and non-actors- not only in areas which have faced, or are facing armed insurgency, but in other areas as well. It needs to ensure that local communities- including dalits, adivasis and the urban poor — who have historically faced marginalisation — have a say in the way state-led or corporate-led development projects which affect their lives are being implemented. And finally, it must speak out on global hotspots of human rights violations-both in the region on Myanmar and Sri Lanka and elsewhere-for instance, on Syria,About Salil ShettySalil Shetty is the eighth secretary general of Amnesty International. A long-term activist on poverty and justice, Shetty leads the movement’s worldwide work to end the abuse of human rights. He is the organisation’s chief political adviser, strategist and spokesperson and take Amnesty International’s campaign to the highest level of government , the United Nations and business. Since joining amnesty International, Shetty has been vocal in supporting the people’s uprising for human rights in the middle East and North imprisoned Noble Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo calling on the Chinese authorities to improve their human rights record. In September 2010, he represented Amnesty International at the united Nations General Assembly.