As delivered by Sheila Leonard
Universal Periodic Review 27th Session
Geneva,
May 4, 2017
Thank you Mr. Vice President.
The United States welcomes the Indian delegation.
We commend the government for its democratic traditions, confronting human rights challenges, and its steps to combat trafficking in persons.
We applaud the Supreme Court’s 2016 decision against impunity under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, however police and security force abuses persist. We urge ratification of the Convention Against Torture.
Despite legal protections, discrimination and societal violence based on gender, religious affiliation, caste and tribe persist. The lack of disaggregated data makes trends difficult to identify. Laws restricting religious conversion in seven states contribute to intolerance.
We note the lack of transparency and uneven application of the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act, which impede NGOs.
We recommend that India:
- Ratify the Convention Against Torture.
- Ensure that laws are fully and consistently enforced to provide adequate protections for members of religious minorities, scheduled castes, tribes, and other vulnerable populations.
- Ensure consistent, transparent application of Foreign Contributions Regulations Act regulations to permit full exercise of the right to freedom of association.
Thank you Mr. Vice President.