India was urged to take a tougher stand on sexual violence and religiousdiscrimination and ratify the torture convention, as countries raked overits human rights record at the UN Thursday.
New Delhi insisted it appreciated the role played by human rights defendersand said it would only impose the death penalty in the “the rarest of rarecases”, as it heard other nations’ critiques at the United Nations HumanRights Council.
“India condemns any form of torture and maintains an inviolable standagainst arbitrary detention, torture, rape or sexual violence by anyone,”India’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the council.
New Delhi has signed the UN Convention Against Torture but has not ratifiedit.
India was facing its Universal Periodic Review, which all 193 UN countriesmust undergo every four years.
“We recommend that India reduce the broad application of the UnlawfulActivities (Prevention) Act and similar laws against human rightsactivists, journalists and religious minorities,” said Michele Taylor, theUS ambassador to the council.
“Despite legal protections, discrimination and violence based on gender andreligious affiliation persist. The application of anti-terror legislationhas led to prolonged detentions of human rights defenders and activists,”she added.
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Canada urged India to probe all acts of sexual violence, and protectfreedom of religion by investigating religious violence “including againstMuslims”.
Nepal said New Delhi should “strengthen its efforts to combatdiscrimination and violence against women and girls”.
British ambassador Simon Manley urged India “to ensure its existing lawsagainst child labour, human trafficking and forced labour are fullyimplemented”.
China likewise said India should “take measures to fight humantrafficking”, and pursue gender equality.
