UN human rights defender to visit J&K

United Nations (UN) rapporteur on human rights Margaret Sekaggya will visit Jammu and Srinagar on January 19 to assess the condition of human rights defenders in the Valley.

Sakaggya will meet human rights defenders, government officials, human rights officials, NGOs and civil society groups during her two-day visit to the state.

“It is for the first time that a UN human rights defender is visiting India,” national information officer (NIO) of the UN Rajiv Chandran told DNA.

However, she is not likely to meet any mainstream political leaders nor will she meet any separatist leader, Chandran said.
Sakaggya is visiting India at the government’s invitation and will visit other states during her India visit.

“The aim of the mission is to evaluate in person, in an objective and impartial manner, the situation of human rights defenders in the country, and to initiate a process of constructive cooperation with the authorities,” Sakaggya was quoted by OHCHR website as saying.

Programme coordinator of the J&K Coalition of Civil Society Khurram Parvez, said the visit is symbolic because the Indian government has for the first time permitted the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights defenders to visit J&K.

“We will be taking some victims families and members of Majlis-e-Masharwat, which championed the cause of rape and murder of two women at Shopian, to meet Sakaggya. The situation of human rights defenders is very bad as they are being persecuted by the state,” he said.