The Deol Foundation's Indian Farmers Human Rights Report

We have published a 12-page report on the Human Rights Of Indian Farmers. They are currently protesting against unjust farm bills. It has been labelled as the biggest mass protest in human history by the Democratic Alliance.

We humbly request you to send a fact-finding team to India, in order to investigate human rights violations against farmers, farm labourers, and those who support their national campaign to have the recently passed farm laws repealed. We further request urgent creation of U. N. Observation Posts At The Three Main Farmers' Protests Sites at Ghazipr, Tikri, and Singhu.

Reasons For Request

The 30 rights and freedoms set out in the UDHR(1) include the right to freedom from torture, the right to free speech, and the right to a fair trial. It further includes the right to live in freedom and safety, civil and political rights, like the right to life, liberty, and privacy. The right to form groups and organize peaceful meetings, as well as the rights of journalists, social/political activists, artists, and musicians to have their work and themselves protected are also present within these articles.

During its heavy-handed response to the farmer's agitation, the Government of India is in

" Breach of Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29 and 30 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Act.

" Breach of Articles 2, 3, 6, and 8 of the United Resolution of the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas.

" Breach of Articles 14, 32, 21, 20 (1), 25(1), 19, 29 (1) of the Constitution Of India.

" Breach of Articles PT1: 1, PT2: 2, PT3: 6, 7 ,9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26 , of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

We have grave concerns regarding the government of India’s use of propaganda, the media, the judiciary, & the police and paramilitary forces. Over 230 people have died during this current crisis and if the national government does not change direction in its response against protest and dissent this will likely run into the many thousands in the coming months. Human Rights Groups do not feel safe. Amnesty International says it has been forced to halt its India operations due to "reprisals" from the government.

Human Rights Groups do not feel safe. Amnesty International says it has been forced to halt its India operations due to "reprisals" from the government. The watchdog also accused the government of pursuing a "witch-hunt" against human rights organizations. “We have seen an alarming escalation in the Indian authorities’ targeting of anyone who dares to criticize or protest the government’s repressive laws and policies. The crackdown on those protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act still has not ended, while new efforts to quell the anti-farm legislation protests have taken shape. The crushing of dissent leaves little space for people to peacefully exercise their human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly in the country,” said Rajat Khosla, Senior Director of Research, Advocacy and Policy at Amnesty International(21).

Currently, there are tens of thousands of farmers encamped at the three farmers' protest sites. The numbers have been steadily rising since their initial arrival on the 26th November 2020. People have left their homes, in many cases hundreds of miles away. Multitudes are sleeping in make-shift tents, under tractors, and in tractor trolleys during the coldest winter in Delhi's recorded history. A large amount of protestors comprise of women, children, and the elderly. A number have succumbed to the bitter conditions. They are now surrounded by barbed wire, barricades, spikes, and scores of police and paramilitary officers. Ambulances and vehicles are being restricted access to the sites. On the 26th January 2021 during the republic day protests, an American Aid worker, Dr. Swaiman Singh, and his team were brutally beaten by Delhi Police whilst they were administering medical aid to protestors and police officers. For further details please see the full human rights report at deolfoundation.org