India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI: NGO groups – All India Network of NGOs and Individuals working with National and State Human Rights Institutions (AiNNI) and Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) – have criticized India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for failing to effectively address human rights violations. This has been reported by the counterview.net news website.
In a submission to the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), the two NGOs noted that NHRC’s accreditation status has not been updated since 2017, misleadingly stating that it has retained its ‘A’ status. This lack of transparency diminishes civil society’s trust in NHRC.
The report highlighted a decline in NHRC’s functionality, with ongoing vacancies and only one acting member following the resignation of its chairperson in May 2024. It accused NHRC of inaction amid serious crimes like rape and custodial violence, and of being unable to defend civil liberties in the face of new laws restricting freedoms.
Despite offers from civil society to help develop a strategic plan, NHRC has not responded to systemic violations of rights or implemented recommendations from GANHRI regarding its organizational structure and engagement with civil society. The report also criticized the lack of diverse representation within NHRC’s membership and the influence of police officers in its investigative processes, which compromises impartiality.
The NHRC’s current leadership has been questioned, particularly regarding the appointment process of its secretary general and the overall lack of adherence to the Paris Principles that require independence from government interference. The report underscores NHRC’s failure to advocate for human rights, highlighting specific cases of detained activists and a general neglect of urgent human rights issues.
The report paints a bleak picture of NHRC’s operations, suggesting it is failing to fulfill its mandate while raising concerns over governmental influence and the need for reform in addressing human rights violations in India.
