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Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Home-based women workers' rights ignored
Although the Sindh government has legislated a law to grant and protect rights of the women home based workers, a lack of implementation on the law continues to deny rights to these workers. A consultation meeting , organized in Sukkur by the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and Bhittai Social Watch and Advocacy (BSWA) on Saturday night, shed light over the issue, identifying bottlenecks and suggesting solutions. The Sindh Home-Based Workers Act was legislated in 2018 to safeguard rights of the home based workers. Tens of thousands of women work in the province in the informal sectors like creating embroidery, crafting multi-coloured tapestry quilts called rilli in Sindhi language, date leaves and wheat straw, besides a range of other items. "The Act is a pioneering law in South Asia," observed Abdullah Dayo, Program Advisor at Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). "We must now focus on implementing its rules to transform legal recognition into the real-world protections for women workers." Additional Inspector General of Police Gender and Human Rights Shahla Qureshi acknowledged the law's significance, underlining the need to integrate gender protection, coordination with anti-GBV services and proactive roles by police in facilitating survivors' access to support services without procedural delays. SSP informed about the role of Anti-Rape Crisis Cells (ARCCs) and the Gender Desks in assisting women workers. She encouraged greater coordination between police, SHRC, and CSOs for survivor-centered responses.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SHRC orders probe into Pullampara quarry blasts, seeks vibration tests and SEIAA clearance check
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered the district collector to initiate an immediate inquiry into complaints regarding safety concerns arising from a quarry near Pullampara. The commission has designated the deputy collector in charge of disaster management to lead the investigation. Chairperson Alexander Thomas has told the collector that the inquiry should address allegations that explosions from the quarry have caused cracks to appear in nearby homes. He instructed that the report be submitted within six weeks and that it include verification of whether the quarry holds valid clearance from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to operate. Additionally, the commission has asked the Pullampara grama panchayat secretary and the district environmental engineer to participate in the site examination. Authorities are also required to notify local residents, including the complainant, Dr S Anas, who raised concerns about the safety of families living nearby. The collector has told the commission that Dr Anas resides within 150 metres of the quarry and he has confirmed the presence of cracks in his home. The quarry owner has been directed to conduct blasting and vibration tests through a government-approved agency to determine if the damage is attributable to the quarry's operations. Residents of Pullampara have alleged that panchayat secretary P Sunilkumar renewed the quarry's permit for an additional year without the approval of the governing committee. Approximately 50 homes in the area are at risk due to their location on a vulnerable slope, with at least 15 already showing signs of cracking. Last year, a landslide from the quarry area destroyed two houses, though seven people, including four children, were rescued in time. Panchayat president P V Rajesh has claimed that Sunilkumar bypassed democratic processes in extending the permit and has indicated that legal action will follow. Under an interim order from the Kerala High Court, the quarry's permit is valid only until May 26, 2025. Local residents have accused the quarry management of using a 2018 Environmental Clearance with misleading information regarding the distance to residential areas to secure permit extensions.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
SHRC orders 50K relief for techie ‘humiliated' by woman inspector
Chennai: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered the payment of 50,000 in compensation to a techie who was assaulted and ill-treated by an inspector attached to Tambaram all-women police station during a 'katta panchayat; (kangaroo court) in a marital dispute with his wife. Commission member V Kannadasan directed the state to recover the amount from the personal funds of inspector C Sumathi and initiate disciplinary action against her. According to complainant V Sagaya Praveen, the inspector forced his mother to hand over the keys of her house to his wife at the police station. Sagaya Praveen, an IT company executive from Kamarajapuram at Anakaputhur, and his wife Mary Mercy were living separately due to family issues. He said Sumathi, who was then an inspector at Tambaram all-women police station, acted under the influence of Antony Stalin, who was the inspector at Chengalpet Town Police Station and a relative of his wife. In 2020, Sumathi allegedly summoned Praveen and his family to the station and forcibly took the key to a house registered in his mother's name and handed it to his wife, effectively conducting a 'kangaroo court', he said. Praveen alleged that when he refused to hand over the key, he was assaulted in front of his wife's kin, forced to sit on the ground, and humiliated. Allowing the complaint, the commission concluded that the inspector violated the human rights of the complainant and ordered the compensation. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
SHRC orders Rs 50K relief for techie ‘humiliated' by woman inspector over marital dispute in Chennai
CHENNAI: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered the payment of Rs 50,000 in compensation to a techie who was assaulted and ill-treated by an inspector attached to Tambaram all-women police station during a 'katta panchayat; (kangaroo court) in a marital dispute with his wife. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Commission member V Kannadasan directed the state to recover the amount from the personal funds of inspector C Sumathi andinitiate disciplinary action against her. According to complainant V Sagaya Praveen, the inspector forced his mother to hand over the keys of her house to his wife at the police station. Sagaya Praveen, an IT company executive from Kamarajapuram at Anakaputhur, and his wife Mary Mercy were living separately due to family issues. He said Sumathi, who was then an inspector at Tambaram all-women police station, acted under the influence of Antony Stalin, who was the inspector at Chengalpet Town Police Station and a relative of his wife. In 2020, Sumathi allegedly summoned Praveenand his family to the station and forcibly took the key to a house registered in his mother's name and handed it to his wife, effectively conducting a 'kangaroo court', he said. Praveen alleged that when he refused to hand over the key, he was assaulted in front of his wife's kin, forced to sit on the ground, and humiliated. Allowing the complaint, the commission concluded that the inspector violated the human rights of the complainant and ordered the compensation. The inspector from Tambaram all-women police station had convened a kangaroo court to resolve a marital dispute.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
SNP to 'end hunger and homelessness' in human rights bill
The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) investigated the situation around economic, social and cultural rights in Argyll and Bute, Hebrides, Highlands, Moray and Northern Isles last year and found that people in these areas faced challenges in accessing basic needs such as health, housing and food. It said it had gathered evidence of difficulties caused by a shortage of affordable housing, centralisation of health services, fuel poverty and unreliable public transport. Ms Stewart set out what the Scottish Government planned to do to address the situation in correspondence to Professor Angela O'Hagan, chair of the SHRC, and the convenes of Holyrood's equalities committee and rural affairs committee sent earlier this week. READ MORE: Sex workers launch campaign to oppose 'dangerous' new law proposed by Ash Regan What is the Nordic Model? The proposals to criminalise 'buyers' of sex 'The SNP are terrified': 'Reform can win by-election - and take power in Holyrood' She said ministers were "committed to bringing forward a Human Rights Bill in the next Parliamentary session, subject to the 2026 Scottish Parliament election". She added: "Proposals for the Bill seek to incorporate the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), along with three other treaties, into Scots law within the limits of devolved competence. "ICESCR includes the right to health, the right to an adequate standard of living (including food and housing), and the right to cultural life, amongst other rights. 'Economic, social, and cultural rights need legal protection. A strong legal framework is required, which the Scottish Government's proposed Scottish Human Rights Bill may address if introduced. Complaint mechanisms must also be improved to ensure they are accessible, affordable, timely, and effective.' The SHRC's report raised concerns over human rights in the Highlands and Islands (Image: Getty Images) The SHRC said in its report that "urgent action is needed to eradicate rooflessness and hunger in the Highlands and Islands" and called for universal access to affordable, acceptable, and quality sexual and reproductive health services to be prioritised and properly funded. Ms Stewart responded: "We agree that rights to food, housing and health are of vital importance to everyone across Scotland and are committed to taking action now to advance these fundamental entitlements." The minister also went on to say a new National Islands Plan would be published separately this year setting out how the government would improve the lives of people on island communities. The SHRC said it carried out its research on human right in the Highlands as it did not understand issues affecting rural and island communities as well as it did those in central Scotland. The commission interviewed community leaders, campaigners, development trusts, teachers, crofters, lawyers, health workers and MSPs. Its findings included that people in Orkney were turning down job offers because they could not find a suitable home, and that victims of abuse there were unable to find accommodation away from alleged offenders. The report also found that the centralisation of health services was leading to 14,000 patients a year from Caithness and Sutherland travelling to Inverness for care, including expectant mothers to give birth. It also revealed that in the Western Isles parents and carers of children and adults with learning disabilities were travelling up to 500 miles weekly to access educational services. A further finding highlights a lack of public transport in Skye and a road infrastructure there that had remained unchanged for the past 20 years despite an increase in visitors. Human Rights were devolved to Holyrood by the Scotland Act 1998. The SHRC said across all rights examined it found not a single human right that met all the conditions of adequacy under international law. It made a number of recommendations to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, including that urgent action should be taken to tackle homelessness, hunger and access to sexual and reproductive health services. Publishing the report in November last year Professor O'Hagan said the commission was very concerned about the poor state of economic, social and cultural rights. She said: "Too many people in Highland and Islands are hungry, homeless, without access to healthcare, and the basics for everyday life. "With this work, we are piloting a new way of monitoring, one that brings the commission closer to communities and enhances their voices and struggles. "While we continue to develop this way of working, we expect that all duty-bearers will reflect carefully on the evidence found in this report, and the action now required from them to meet their human rights obligations."
