Anti Torture Initiative

Allegedly, a Dalit needs to take off his shoes and hold it in his hand, if a Thakur is approaching towards him. He has to do so while visiting a locality in the village inhabited by upper caste. The complainant, Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi of PVCHR, Varanasi, UP, has alleged that this practice is prevalent in several villages of District Lalitpur in the region.

Caritas India and People Vigilance Community for Human Rights (PVCHR) successfully organized a state-level Public Hearing on the realization of rule of law for scheduled caste in Patna on 17 May 2013. Its principal objective is to provide a platform to the Schedule Caste especially Mahadalits for sharing their atrocities against them and to come out with recommendation for the state government for improving the human rights situation of Schedule Caste especially mahadalits. The Public Hearing managed to draw 45 survivors from 6 districts of Bihar. http://www.caritasindia.org/InterventionDetails.aspx?Inid=96

History of testimony to resist by women, Dalit, Indigenous people, Minority, marginalized people are very old. Feminist literature, dalit literature and hunger strike of Irom Sharmila are few best examples of testimonial campaign in South Asia. Thanks to Jan Ole Haagensen and Erik Wendt of Dignity:Danish Institute against Torture to bring the Inger Agger to PVCHR for realization of testimonial therapy in India. PVCHR introduced honour ceremony based on hope, honour and human dignity with strong process of justice and reconciliation against culture of silence based on conspiracy of caste, patriarchy and communal fascism. Hope, Honour, Human Dignity, solidarity, justice based on secularism & rule of law and reconciliation are main components to bring successful peoples’ testimonial movement on ground to contribute in global Human Rights campaign

The public hearing will be inaugurated by the Chief Guest Shri C.K Tyagi, Presenting Officer, National Human Rights Commission. The hearing will consist of a panelist from prominent academicians, former police officials, members of civil society organizations and Human Rights Defenders in front of whom the victims would provide necessary testimonies about their problems. A total of 30 cases will be deposited along with the testimonies of other experts on the topic. The fact of the violation reporting will be shared to the various concerned authorities such as at state level, human rights institutions etc. along with the panelist recommendation.