NHRC forum pitches for law to end ambiguity in dealing with refugees asylum-seekers
New Delhi Jan 20 PTI A forum hosted by the NHRC Thursday unanimously pitched for enacting a national law to end adhocism and ambiguity in dealing with refugees and asylum-seekers in the country officials saidThe National Human Rights Commission organised an online open discussion on the protection of the basic human rights of refugees and asylum-seekers in India on ThursdayNHRC member justice M M Kumar chaired the event which was attended by NHRC chairperson justice retd Arun Kumar Mishra other senior official of NHRC and representatives of ministries of law external affairs and home affairs UN Human Rights Council domain experts among othersIt was unanimously felt that though India had a very good track record and tradition of dealing with and handling the international refugees and asylum seekers since time immemorial it is time a national law is enacted to include all the best practices and policies so far to have in place a uniformity and legal sanctity to ensure protection and realisation of human rights of refugees and asylum seekers across the country the NHRC said in a statementThis was also to help them seek the benefits of other welfare measures by the government even while taking care of the national security it addedEarlier inaugurating the open forum justice Kumar said that by the virtue of the Constitution of India every citizen is entitled to basic human rightsIndia is a signatory to various international conventions and treaties related to refugees and asylum seekers largely within the framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights UDHR but not on the basis of Citizenship Act 1955 which he said can be regulated to protect their rights according to the statementBecause protecting their rights merely on the basis of certain documents depending on case to case basis may lead to ambiguities in the uniform interpretation thereof compounding their problems in getting even basic necessities in different parts of the country in the absence of a national law the statement saidJustice Kumar said that legislature needs to be impressed upon for enacting a national law on refugees and asylum seekers to overcome adhocism and confusion as these may lead to subjectivity and unnecessary litigationTriggering the discussion NHRC Secretary General Bimbadhar Pradhan said that while there are various internationally acclaimed measures India has been using to deal with the refugees and asylum seekers these are largely with the intent that normalcy can be restored only by sending them back to their respective countries on voluntary repatriationKavita Belani Deputy Chief Mission UNHCR said refugees by definition are victims of human rights violationsShe lauded Indias support to refugees and displaced people with its home grown solutions in line with the global commitments and described these as very inclusive and forward looking However she said these needed to be put in a structured policy on predictable lines for a national response to make it easy for all the refugees and asylum seekers get access to their rights Besides the inaugural session the open forum was divided into two thematic sessions focusing on policy framework and legal safeguards for refugees and asylum seekers and issues and challenges in protection of right to life and dignity and access to other socio- economic educational and cultural rights officials saidConcluding the discussion Justice Kumar said that all the suggestions will be further deliberated in the Commission before sending to the government as recommendations for implementation PTI KND TIR TIR
New Delhi Jan 20 PTI A forum hosted by the NHRC Thursday unanimously pitched for enacting a national law to end adhocism and ambiguity in dealing with refugees and asylum-seekers in the country officials saidThe National Human Rights Commission organised an online open discussion on the protection of the basic human rights of refugees and asylum-seekers in India on ThursdayNHRC member justice M M Kumar chaired the event which was attended by NHRC chairperson justice retd Arun Kumar Mishra other senior official of NHRC and representatives of ministries of law external affairs and home affairs UN Human Rights Council domain experts among othersIt was unanimously felt that though India had a very good track record and tradition of dealing with and handling the international refugees and asylum seekers since time immemorial it is time a national law is enacted to include all the best practices and policies so far to have in place a uniformity and legal sanctity to ensure protection and realisation of human rights of refugees and asylum seekers across the country the NHRC said in a statementThis was also to help them seek the benefits of other welfare measures by the government even while taking care of the national security it addedEarlier inaugurating the open forum justice Kumar said that by the virtue of the Constitution of India every citizen is entitled to basic human rightsIndia is a signatory to various international conventions and treaties related to refugees and asylum seekers largely within the framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights UDHR but not on the basis of Citizenship Act 1955 which he said can be regulated to protect their rights according to the statementBecause protecting their rights merely on the basis of certain documents depending on case to case basis may lead to ambiguities in the uniform interpretation thereof compounding their problems in getting even basic necessities in different parts of the country in the absence of a national law the statement saidJustice Kumar said that legislature needs to be impressed upon for enacting a national law on refugees and asylum seekers to overcome adhocism and confusion as these may lead to subjectivity and unnecessary litigationTriggering the discussion NHRC Secretary General Bimbadhar Pradhan said that while there are various internationally acclaimed measures India has been using to deal with the refugees and asylum seekers these are largely with the intent that normalcy can be restored only by sending them back to their respective countries on voluntary repatriationKavita Belani Deputy Chief Mission UNHCR said refugees by definition are victims of human rights violationsShe lauded Indias support to refugees and displaced people with its home grown solutions in line with the global commitments and described these as very inclusive and forward looking However she said these needed to be put in a structured policy on predictable lines for a national response to make it easy for all the refugees and asylum seekers get access to their rights Besides the inaugural session the open forum was divided into two thematic sessions focusing on policy framework and legal safeguards for refugees and asylum seekers and issues and challenges in protection of right to life and dignity and access to other socio- economic educational and cultural rights officials saidConcluding the discussion Justice Kumar said that all the suggestions will be further deliberated in the Commission before sending to the government as recommendations for implementation PTI KND TIR TIR
