Showing posts with label Amnesty International. Show all posts

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Death Penalty in India:

“One hardly finds a rich or affluent person going to the gallows”

In November 2012, Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was hanged in the country’s first execution in more than eight years. Three months later, Afzal Guru was executed after his clemency petition was rejected by the President; Guru had been convicted in 2005 of being involved in the 2001 attack on Parliament.

More recently, the government has expanded the scope of the death penalty by amending laws to provide for this punishment in certain cases of rape.

The Supreme Court last week also rejected an appeal against the decision by the President to reject Devender Pal Singh’s mercy petition. In a trial that has raised serious fair trial concerns, Devender Pal Singh was found guilty of planning an explosion that killed nine people in 1993. His sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2002 and he has been on death row since.

The recent decision of the Supreme Court is likely to affect at least 17 more prisoners who are asking for commutation of their death sentences on the grounds of delay in the disposal of their mercy petitions by the President.

Justice A. P. Shah, a former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, is one of the most outspoken opponents of capital punishment in the country. He shared his views on the death penalty in this interview with Amnesty International.

What is the state of the death penalty in India?

India has carried out only very few executions since the 1990s. However, the brutal gang rape of a 23-year old woman in Delhi last year intensified public calls for the imposition of the death penalty.

Why should India abolish the death penalty?

Whether an accused is sentenced to death or not is an arbitrary matter and depends on a number of factors, ranging from the competence of the legal representation to the interest of the central government in a particular case and the personal predilections of the judges.

It is beyond any shred of doubt that in India, it is the judges’ subjective discretion that eventually decides the fate of an accused.

Also, confessions and witness testimonies play a more vital role in India than in many other countries, given that forensic and other scientific evidence are not so frequently adopted here.

Most death sentences are awarded on circumstantial evidence alone. Even the use of professionally trained witnesses by the police is common.

Why do you say the death penalty is discriminatory?

In India, it is largely cases involving the poor and the down-trodden - who are the victims of class-bias - which result in an imposition of a death penalty. Here one hardly finds a rich or affluent person going to the gallows.

Therefore, it is apparent that the death penalty, as it is used now, is discriminatory. It strikes mostly against the disadvantaged sections of society, showing its arbitrary and capricious nature - thus rendering it unconstitutional.

You have expressed concerns about the execution of Afzal Guru, who was convicted of being involved in 2001 attack on Parliament in Delhi

Several disturbing trends emerge from his execution, which must be highlighted.

For example, the rejection of his clemency petition by the President on 3 February 2013 was kept a secret and was not communicated to his family. Afzal Guru was executed within a week without his family being informed and his body was buried secretly. There are also serious doubts about the quality of evidence and whether he was adequately represented legally during his trial.

What’s the future of the death penalty in India?

The global trend is increasingly and overwhelmingly in favour of abolition.

We would be deluding ourselves if we were to believe that the execution of a few persons sentenced to death will provide a solution to the unacceptably high rates of crime. In reality, capital punishment does not have any deterrent effect.

Justice A. P. Shah is one of 14 retired judges who last year called on the Indian President to commute 13 death sentences that, they maintain, were imposed in a manner inconsistent with the law.

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

You will be a strategic thinker

Asia/PACIFIC: AI is seeking a Regional Growth CoordinatorWed, Mar 6, 2013 at 12:57 PM

Oxford HR is working with Amnesty International (AI) to recruit a Regional Growth Coordinator (Asia Pacific).

For the past 50 years AI has brought people together to fight for human rights. Their aim is simple: an end to human rights abuses. Independent, international and influential, they campaign for justice, freedom and truth wherever they're denied. Already their network of over three million members and supporters is making a difference in 150 countries. And whether they're applying pressure through powerful research or direct lobbying, mass demonstrations, human rights education, or online campaigning, they're all inspired by hope for a better world. One where human rights are respected and protected by everyone, everywhere.

About the role
AI is embarking on a major process of evolution, to adapt to the dramatic changes in the world they operate in, and to increase the impact of their human rights work. With a new, global way of working AI have an exciting newly created position, which will develop, progress and manage a range of projects for growth within the Asia Pacific region. Working as part of the Asia Pacific Regional Hub team in Hong Kong, this role will focus on projects with clear roots in Human Rights impact, while supporting sustainability, with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the organizational growth strategy.

In this key regional position you will collaboratively monitor Human Rights trends and developments, develop national and regional growth strategies and mobilize resources. You will work together with both internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement the regions projects for growth by identifying gaps, sharing learning and exploring opportunities for cooperation. You will write proposals and develop projects plans, while piloting exciting new models of presence. You will monitor and evaluate the growth of AIs presence in the region actively contributing to the development of good practice and the growing knowledge bank of research about regional trends in civil society, activism and mobilization and constituencies.

About the ideal candidate
We are seeking an innovative and persuasive individual who is enthusiastic about creating Human Rights change. You will know about the trends and developments affecting Human Rights in the Asia Pacific region and have a proven track record addressing the opportunities and challenges for growth and mobilization in the region. Your expertise in best practice activism and mobilization combined with your ability to develop strong networks and relationships with civil society, NGOs and government will ensure your successful contribution to growing AI's impact in the region.

To be successful in this position you will be a strategic thinker with strong political and cultural sensitivity. You will have solid project management experience and the organizational development expertise to effectively diagnose organizational structures and operations. You will have a systematic approach to your work, yet be flexible and apply sound judgement.

Natasha Ralston
Australasian Representative - Oxford HR Consultants Ltd
Jakarta, Indonesia and Adelaide, Australia
Tel: +62 (0) 813 1600 2877 | +61 (0) 449 144 280 | Skype ID: natasha.ralston77

For detailed job description and instructions on how to apply, please visit http://oxfordhr.co.uk/vacancies/regional-growth-coordinator-asia-pacific/

# # #

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

Read this News online

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Allotment of Broadcast/Telecast time to Political Parties

General Election to Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa 2012 - Allotment of Broadcast/Telecast time to Political Parties

copy of the Order No.437/TVs/2012/Media, dated 11^th January 2012 issued by the Election Commission of India regarding allotment of broadcast/telecast time to political parties in the General Election to Legislative Assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa- 2012 is enclosed for the information of the general public.

ORDER

At the time of General Elections to the Lok Sabha in 1998 a new initiative for State funding of recognized political parties through free use of the State owned Television and Radio was introduced under directions of the Commission vide its Order, dated 16^thJanuary, 1998. The said scheme was subsequently extended in all the General Elections to the State Assemblies held after 1998 and General Elections to the Lok Sabha in 1999, 2004 and 2009.

With the amendments to the Representation of People Act, 1951 vide "Election and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Act, 2003" and the rules notified thereunder, equitable time sharing for campaigning by recognized political parties on electronic media now has statutory basis. In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of the Explanation below section 39A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, the Central Government has notified all such broadcasting media which are owned or controlled or financed wholly or substantially by funds provided to them by the Central Government as the electronic media for the purposes of that section. Therefore, the Commission has decided to extend the said scheme of equitable time sharing on electronic media through Prasar BharatiCorporation to the ensuing General Election to the State Legislative Assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa 2012 .

The facilities of use of broadcast time and telecast time will be available only to National Parties and Recognised State Parties in the State of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa

THE SALIENT FEATURES OF THE SCHEME ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. The facilities will be available from the Regional Kendra of the All India Radio and Doordarshan and in the headquarters ofUttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa and relayed by other stations within the respective States.

2. A base time of 45 minutes will be given to each National Party and Recognized State Party (recognized in the respective State) uniformly on the Regional Kendra of Doordarshan network and All India Radio network in the State of Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

3. The National and the State Parties will be treated at par for the Assembly elections.

4. The additional time to be allotted to the parties has been decided on the basis of the poll performance of the parties in the last Assembly election, as required under rule 85C (3) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 from the State of Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

5. In a single session of broadcast, no party will be allocated more than 15 minutes.

6. The period of broadcast and telecast will be between the last date of filing the nominations and will end two days before the date of poll in the State of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. However, there will be no telecast or broadcast during the 48 hours preceding the close of polls as per specific provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951.

7. The Prasar Bharati Corporation in consultation with the Commission will decide the actual date and time for broadcast and telecast. This will be subject to the broad technical constraints governing the actual time of transmission available with theDoordarshan and All India Radio.

8. The guidelines prescribed by the Commission for telecast and broadcast will be strictly followed. The parties will be required to submit transcripts and recording in advance. The parties can get this recorded at their own cost in studios, which meet the technical standards prescribed by the Prasar Bharati Corporation or at the Doordarshan/All India Radio Kendras. They can, in the alternative, have these recorded in the studios of Doordarshan and All India Radio by advance requests. In such cases, the recordings may be done at the State Capital and at timings indicated by Doordarshan/All India Radio in advance.

9. In addition to the broadcast by parties, the Prasar Bharati Corporation will organise a maximum of two panel discussions and/or debates on the Kendra/Station of Doordarshan/All India Radio. Each eligible party can nominate one representative to such aprogramme.

10. The Election Commission of India will approve the names of coordinators for such panel discussions and debates in consultation with the Prasar Bharati Corporation.

11. Time Vouchers will be available in the denomination of 1 to 5 minutes with one voucher having time allotment from 1 to 4 minutes and the parties will be free to combine them suitably. The allotment of time to different political parties is given in a statement enclosed herewith.

12. Based upon the Commission’s order dated 27^th December 2011, the time that would have been allotted onDoordarshan and All India Radio for broadcast for recognized parties for the “Uttrakahand Kranti Dal” (UKD) as per the existing policy, shall now be divided equally between the “Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) and “Jantantrik Uttarakhand Kranti Dal” for the ensuing general election to the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.

GENERAL ELECTION TO

THE STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF GOA 2012