Abdul Mussawer Safi
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) says that in 2019, there were more than 32,000 rapes in India. India accounts for about 40 percent of the world’s child marriages. Thus, more than half of all females marry before age 18; 47 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 24 are married before age 18.
Recent protests in Geneva drew the attention of people with a more in-depth understanding of India’s social fabric. The peaceful protest featured the placement of standees, 4D view tents, posters, and banners with information about numerous human rights violations in India. The topics emphasized were the exploitation of women in India, child marriages, Christian persecution, religious fanaticism in India, state-sponsored terrorism against minorities, the oppression of Dalits, and the burning of Christian churches and religious preachers.
India’s social structure is very fragile and complicated because there are so many different ethnic, sub-ethnic, and religious groups living there. For many years, the treatment of women in India has been a source of concern. The country continues to suffer from problems such as domestic abuse, rape, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination despite government and civil society efforts.
Recent protests in Geneva drew the attention of people with a more in-depth understanding of India’s social fabric. The peaceful protest featured the placement of standees, 4D view tents, posters, and banners with information about numerous human rights violations in India. The topics emphasized were the exploitation of women in India, child marriages, Christian persecution, religious fanaticism in India, state-sponsored terrorism against minorities, the oppression of Dalits, and the burning of Christian churches and religious preachers.
In India, the rate of child marriage declined by around 7 percent between 1992–1993 and 2005. Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh have the highest rates, with Bihar, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan following closely behind. The problem is more frequent in rural India than in urban areas, with 56% prevalence versus 29% prevalence.
Due to the shame linked to rape victims, the fear of vengeance, and a lack of faith in the criminal justice system, many incidents go unreported. The situation is more alarming in rural communities where women face additional obstacles such as restricted access to education, healthcare, and legal services.
In recent years, the Indian government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been criticized and condemned for its nationalist policies and influence on the country’s human rights. A one-of-a-kind protest in front of the United Nations headquarters in Geneva highlighted these issues.
The United Christian Forum, a human rights organization headquartered in New Delhi, held a peaceful demonstration in front of the United Nations offices in Geneva to bring attention to the awful condition of religious minorities in India. The group’s head said they had gathered to commiserate with their Christian compatriots in several Indian states, where their core constitutional rights are being eroded. The plea for understanding and assistance from other Indians indicates the fear and desperation felt by religious minorities in India, particularly Christians, who face increasing persecution and violence.
Since the BJP took power in 2014, violence against Christians and Muslims has worsened. This makes it even more critical for the government to protect the safety and security of Christians in India. Several organizations record hundreds of incidents of violence against Christians and other minorities. Each year, India’s internal security forces and National Minority Commission record approximately a hundred acts of violence against Christians motivated by religion. Observers suggest, however, that the number of attacks is likely higher since many incidents are never reported.
The range of attacks includes the robbery of churches, monasteries, and other Christian places; the burning of Bibles; the ruin of cemeteries; the murder of priests and missionaries; and the sexual abuse of nuns. Human rights activists and organizations are alarmed by the targeted and systemic injustice against Christians across the nation, as shown by these crimes.
Religious freedom is a fundamental human right and a distinguishing feature of democratic nations. In a secular country like India, it is the government’s responsibility to protect the safety and security of all its citizens, regardless of their religion or beliefs. Even though the Indian constitution guarantees freedom of religion, religious minorities are increasingly susceptible to violence and intolerance. This needs quick government action to address the root causes of religious intolerance and violence and provide justice for such acts victims.
Persecution of Indian Christians and religious fanaticism was also highlighted in the demonstration. Hindu fanatics have subjected Christians in India to violence, prejudice, and persecution. There have been allegations of assaults on churches, priests, nuns, and forced conversions. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) classifies India as a “Tier 2” country, suggesting substantial abuses of religious freedom in India.
The rally also brought up the plight of India’s minorities as something to worry about. Muslims, Dalits, and other minority groups in the nation endure different sorts of discrimination and marginalization. There have also been reports of state-sponsored terror acts against minorities, notably Muslims. There have been cases of mob lynchings of Muslims by Hindu fundamentalists, and the Citizenship Amendment Act has been condemned for being discriminatory toward Muslims.
During the protest, people also talked about the plight of India’s Dalits, who do not have voting rights. Dalits still face prejudice and violence, even though there are laws and policies in place to protect their rights. There have been allegations of Dalits being denied access to essential services like water and education and incidents of caste-based violence.
A recent incident in which India called the Swiss Ambassador to complain about posters and banners critical of India that were put up near the main offices of the United Nations and Human Rights Council in Geneva has shown once again how sensitive the Indian government is to criticism of its policies. Nonetheless, it is essential to recognize that in a democratic society, the freedom to criticize the policies of any administration is a fundamental right.
Abdul Mussawer Safi is pursuing his bachelor’s in international relations from the National Defense University Islamabad. He has a profound interest in World politics especially, in the regional dynamics of South Asia. His academic strengths are critical and SWOT Analysis. He tweets at MussawerSafi.
