DIGNITY REPORTER

KATHMANDU: A group of Human Rights defenders including the International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR) is organizing a side-line event ‘Crisis in Manipur and Implications for Human Rights in India’ in conjunction with the 54th session of the Human Rights Council on September 19. 

The other co-sponsoring organizations of the side event without ECOSOC consultative status include Open Doors International, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Hindus for Human Rights, North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), and Justice For All. 

“As the 2024 elections in India draw close our side event panel will discuss accountability for violence, and how to prevent incitement and further violence against ethnic and religious minorities,” states the organizers. 

Since May this year, the state of Manipur in India has witnessed large-scale violence primarily against the tribal Christian Zo people (Kuku, Zomi, Hmar tribes)that led to at least 180 deaths, rampant sexual violence, and hundreds of churches and thousands of houses were either demolished or torched due to which more than 70,000 people were internally displaced.

In July, in the state of Haryana, an anti-Muslim rally led to kill six people followed by Muslim homes and businesses targeted and destroyed in Nuh, a small city south of New Delhi.

These organizations have been fighting for human rights in different parts of the world. 

The panelists of the side event are Ms Reem Alsalem, United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Ms. Florence N Lowe, Founding Member and President of the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), Ms. Hena Zuberi, Director for Advocacy for Justice for All and the function will be moderated by Mr Wissam al-Saliby Director of the Geneva Office of the World Evangelical Alliance. 

During the event, a pre-recorded video message by Mr. Nury Turkel, commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom will be played.