Brochure of LFHRI
LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL, CHANDIGARH.
H I S T O R Y
When the State of Punjab was under siege with Punjab Police and
thousands of innocent people were liquidated by the Punjab police
in the era of State terrorism during the 80’s, the Lawyers
For Human Rights International, a registered non-governmental
human rights organisation of India was formed in 1987 by few human
rights lawyers to marshal the resources of the legal community
to address our nation’s pressing human rights needs. Its
jurisdiction was later on extended to the whole of India. It is
a national, non-partisan, non-profit organisation.
A I M S A N D O B J E C T I V E S
Provision of free legal aid to the poor and indigent persons,
launch campaign to eradicate human rights abuses, filing of Public
Interest Litigation on various human rights issues and undertaking
educational projects for spreading awareness about human rights
among general public, are among the many aims and objects of the
organisation.
M I sS I O N
To unite lawyers and human rights activists for educating and
protecting human rights among the people, the organisation consisting
of only lawyers, has avowed to protect the human rights of the
citizens through legal means and to uphold the Rule of Law.
A C T I V I T I E S
- LFHRI is filing cases of human rights violations, including
custodial violence by the state agencies, domestic violence,
and sexual abuses against women, prisoner’s rights in
different courts like, the Supreme Court of India, Punjab and
Haryana High Court, National Human Rights Commission, Punjab
State Human Rights Commission and also in Subordinate Courts.
- Contributing in its own way to fight custodial torture, the
LFHRI has started a campaign to stamp out torture from every
Police Station in Punjab and Chandigarh, and to nail every police
officer responsible for using third degree methods upon any
person, it has succeeded to a large extent, in bringing to book
many senior and subordinate police officials guilty of human
rights violations. In this ongoing struggle, they suffered colossal
loss with six of its member lawyers, namely Ranbir Singh Mansahia,
Jagwinder Singh alias Happy, Sukhwinder Singh Bhatti, Kulwant
Singh and his family, Satnam Singh Jammu and a battery of human
rights activists including Jaswant Singh Khalra, Dharamvir Singh,
lost their lives at the hands of Punjab police.
- LFHRI conducts investigation into the cases of human rights
violations and undertakes periodical study of the overall human
rights situation in Punjab. It has investigated into many cases
of custodial deaths in Punjab during the last more over a decade
and is zealously continuing with their efforts.
- LFHRI has also established a free legal aid unit in every
district headquarters with competent lawyers having good standing
in criminal law. They provide free legal aid to the poor and
indigent persons in the Subordinate Courts as well as High Court.
- LFHRI has also undertaken educational campaigns to educate
general public about their rights and obligations of the State
agencies in protecting and respecting the human rights of the
people. It regularly publishes handbills, booklets and other
publicity material for spreading human rights education among
the people. It also organises seminars, rallies and processions
to mark World Human Rights Day and other events related to human
rights situation in India.
P U B L I C A T I O N S
LFHRI publications are periodically distributed
free of charge to general public, non-governmental organisations
and communities in India and abroad who can use them to exercise
their human rights and promote human rights education. Prominent
publications of the organisation are:
- “WAILS OF INJUSTICE”. It exposes
the dubious role of Central Bureau of Investigation and the
indifferent attitude of the law courts in
Punjab (India) dealing with cases of human rights violations
in Punjab.
- Compilation of Custodial deaths in Punjab during 1997-June
2001.
- “GENESIS OF STATE TERRORISM IN PUNJAB”
.It speaks volume of atrocities committed on innocent people
in Punjab by the State agencies. This publication has undoubtedly
added feather to its cap.
M E E T T H E M E M B E R S
The founder members of the body are, Mr. Amar Singh Chahal, President,
Mr. Balwant Singh Dhillon, Senior Vice-President, Mr. Navkiran
Singh, General Secretary, Mr. Arunjeev Singh Walia, Office Secretary,
Mr. Brijinder Singh Sodhi, President Patiala Unit, Mr. Tejinder
Singh Sudan, President, Chandigarh Unit, who have earned a name
with their dedicated and sincere efforts. At present the organisation
is having more than a hundred members besides district units established
in different district headquarters of Punjab and Chandigarh.
A C H I E V E M E N T S
While violation of human rights in different forms exist everywhere,
Lawyers For Human Rights International has made substantial gains
over the past decade in guaranteeing constitutional protections
for people living in Punjab (India) in all areas of our society.
The
LFHRI as the people’s advocate before law courts, and in
educating the public about crucial human rights issues--- has
given a hope to millions of Indians and strengthened people’s
faith in the Rule of Law. The accomplishments described below
were realized through the organisation’s network of more
than hundred of human rights activists and members of the organisation.
These matters are but a handful of the many accomplishments the
LFHRI has forged over the past decade on behalf of hundreds of
thousands of Indians.
Our deep gratitude extends to all of our lawyer members as well
as many individuals and institutions that provide moral as well
as financial support to the LFHRI every year.
- LFHRI has succeeded in bringing to book many police officers
into dock for human rights violations committed by them, after
the report of investigations into human rights violations having
being relied upon by the Courts.
- LFHRI has filed cases on behalf of victims of State repression
in Punjab in the Supreme Court of India, Punjab & Haryana
High Court, and Punjab State Human Rights Commission and subordinate
Courts and got compensations, indictments against guilty police
men and conducted trial on behalf of the victim’s families
on pro-bono basis.
- LFHRI organised many seminars, rallies and public awareness
functions for promoting human rights among the general public.
- LFHRI represented in the World Conference against Racism,
Racial discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances held
in Durban from 31st August to 7th September, 2001.
- LFHRI has succeeded in checking the incidents of Police torture
in Custody in Police Stations. It has launched a campaign to
remove all the torture instruments kept in Police Stations in
Punjab and Chandigarh.
S U P O R T I N G O R G A N I S A T I O N S
- Punjab Human Rights Organisation
- Lawyers For Social Reforms, Chandigarh
- Human Rights Law Network, Mumbai
- Punjab Rights Organisation, Belarus
- Sikh Human Rights Group, UK
H O W C A N Y O U G E T
I N V O L V E D ?
LFHRI relies on the support of individuals and
non-governmental organisations to further its work with victims
of human rights violations. You can help us to continue this work
by making a donation, however small, which will go directly towards
the areas of work outlined in this leaflet. To make a donation
please remit the amount in US $ at our registered office.
If you belong to legal fraternity or interested in human rights
cause and would like to know more about how we could work together,
please contact us or write to us.
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