Human Rights Violation in India, Article Review Example

Human rights violation in India

The importance of human rights is crucial for the citizens in any country and the article “India Goes Backwards on Human Rights” gives important information regarding the extent of human rights violation in China and the need for change. This information is relevant to the topical materials of a culture of a country outside the US.

The prevalence of violent cases of human rights violation in India raise the question of the reason behind the laxity of the government in taking proactive measures to uphold human rights protection. The role of government officials in protecting the lives and human rights of their citizens is important bearing in mind that every person is entitled to protection.

Neha has documented in the article that there has been a dramatic shift in the way the human rights protection issues is being considered in India which was an important event in 2012. The state of events was based on the report issued by the Human Rights Watch. There were more and more violent cases that were targeted to women in India, an apparent failure in provision of protection in freedom for speech, and a laxity in holding the public officials to account for their wrong doings (Neha, 2013).

According to Neha, the most disturbing problem in India with respect to the protection of the human rights revolves around the gap that exists between the noble intentions and the action that must be taken. In normal occasions, there are many good intentions and the right things are continuously being spoken at all the levels of government, but the translation into action on the ground has never been observed. The government officials deliver strong statements with anticipations of transforming the lives of people to enhance their interaction with the lowest government officials at lower levels so that improvements in human rights can be achieved.

Neha has also documented the efforts of Human Rights Watch in condemning the rampart issues of sexual harassment of women in India. The sexual violence has escalated to the extent of gaining attention from national as well as international agencies. A case involving a 23–years old woman who was involved in sexual violence of gang rape was documented on the 16^th of December in New Delhi (Neha, 2013). This prompted the government to consider constructive efforts in swift response and urged for a release of the Verma Commission report that highlights the necessary recommendations in handling the sexual assault cases and the need for systemic transformations.

The office of the prime minister and the cabinet needs to embrace some vital changes with the officer located close to the citizens being a representative face of the government. There is also a need for a sturdy system that guides the accountability of the public officials with enhanced training as well as police sensitization.

Ajmal Kasab was documented as the culprit of the Mumbi attack that took place in 2008 with agencies recommending that the most appropriate punishment for such a crime was a death penalty. This was perceived as a regression in the criminal justice system in India according to the Human Rights Watch (World Report 2014).

Neha also documents laxity in protection against violation of freedom of expression coupled with a misapplication of sedition law which was as an undermining factor to developments in the civil society. Several cases of free speech impediments were highlighted such as the application of sedition law in hauling attacks to the activists in the civil society (Neha, 2013).

The conventional argument from top officials in the government of India is the prevalence of full-scale freedom of speech although the government is more concerned with law and order. In the situation that some interest groups try to limit the freedom of speech, they are commonly translated as treats to violence by the government. It would be prudent if social media was welcomed to serve as a constructive platform for debate. However, commentators in Facebook and Twitter are usually arrested by the government.

If the government can fail in its role in providing services for the citizens which include offering them protection, do they really qualify to collect taxes from the same citizens and is there any need for a government in the first place. This is the question that lingers in the minds of the citizens are left to the vulnerabilities of to abuse and violation of human rights.

Works cited

Neha Thirani Bagri. India Goes Backwards on Human Rights. The New York Times. February 1, 2013.

World Report 2014. Human Rights Watch. 2014. pp. 334–341.