Take stock of human rights violations: Jesuit activist

On Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, a Jesuit priest is reminding people to take stock of the human rights abuses and violations across the country.

"Human rights violations are on the increase instead of decreasing and this is the painful reality we need to come to grips with," says Fr Cedric Prakash, a human rights activist and a Jesuit priest based in the city of Ahmedabad.

Fr Prakash informs that thousands of tribals are still denied access to forests, lands, and water which they once owned, and wanton industrialization through mega-projects has resulted in displacement of thousands and with great harm to the environment.

"The dalits are still children of 'a lesser God' in most parts of the country. Women and children, being the most vulnerable, are also easy targets to all types of violations. Fundamentalist forces blatantly continue their attacks on the minorities all over," he adds

Fr Prakash, who was awarded one of the highest French civilian awards for his commitment to the promotion of human rights in India, laments over vested interests' ability to "deny free speech, to silence and even to kill those who try to expose the rot in our system and to defend the rights of victims."

It is fitting therefore, that the theme for Human Rights Day this year is highlighting the role played by human rights defenders in protecting the rights of others in order to end discrimination, he said.

"Human rights defenders speak out against abuse and violations including discrimination, exclusion, oppression and violence. They advocate justice and seek to protect the victims of human rights violations," he observed.

Each year hundreds of thousands of people across the world mark International Human Rights Day on December 10. The theme for this year is "Human Rights Defenders who Act to End Discrimination".