UN urges India to protect religious minorities' human rights

In a statement issued on Thursday, United Nations human rights experts called upon the Indian government to safeguard the human rights of religious minorities and prevent the advocacy of religious hatred.

The experts urged the repeal of anti-conversion and anti-blasphemy laws, emphasizing the importance of protecting religious freedom and ensuring accountability for crimes committed.

The joint statement, endorsed by UN special rapporteurs, independent experts, and working groups, specifically urged New Delhi to take action against vigilante violence and adopt anti-discriminatory laws in collaboration with marginalized groups, including Dalits.

The experts emphasized the need for laws addressing gender-based discrimination and violence against women and girls, urging the government to respond effectively to survivors' needs.

Furthermore, the statement called on the Indian government to prevent the demolition of homes and arbitrary displacement of minorities, especially those driven by mega-projects. The experts highlighted the risk of statelessness for people of Bengali descent in Assam and urged the government to address this issue.

Expressing concern over the potential misuse of investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate against civil society activists and groups, the experts recommended bringing central agencies under proper oversight and control. They emphasized the importance of creating an enabling environment for civil society to operate, recognizing its significant role in societal betterment.

Additionally, the experts called for a conducive atmosphere to ensure free and fair elections this year, urging measures to prevent the misuse of official resources for partisan purposes. The statement also called for India's cooperation with the United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, seeking information on the whereabouts of forcibly disappeared individuals and the implementation of recommended measures.