Columbia Human Rights Conference

Violence in Gujrat and the challenges in the Middle East have rekindled global awareness of human rights issues. In April of 2002, the Coalition co sponsored a critical event, "Law and Justice in Punjab: Is the Process Part of the Punishment ?", with several other organizations (CU Sikhs, Columbia Center for the Study of Human Rights, University Chaplain's office, Sikhs Sew and Sikh Sisterhood). The conference involved some of the most innovative and dedicated human rights activists in Punjab. Keynote speakers included:

• Ram Rayan Kumar -Covenor of the Committee for Coordination on Disapearances in Punjab
• Geoff Parish -Filmmaker on Human Rights Violations in Punjab
• Ashok Agrawal -Lead Counsel for Petitioner in the Matter of Illegal Cremations
• Cynthia Mahmoud Keppley - Professor, Notre Dame University and Author of "Fighting for Faith and Nation
• Sirdar Gurtej Singh -National Professor of Sikhism

Ravinder Singh (Bhalla) and John Cerone discuss legal avenues for human rights victims

Coming at a turning point in the Punjab human rights movement, the Columbia conference encouraged explorative and creative brainstorming for future advocacy. Invited speakers and participants discussed the applicability of emerging concepts of international human rights jurisprudence to longstanding human rights dilemmas in Punjab. In doing so, the Columbia conference presented a rare and exciting opportunity for activists on Punjab human rights issues to gather, consolidate new findings, and chart a future agenda.

The conference consisted of a one-day seminar on the legal and humanitarian issues involved with Human Rights in Punjab. A second day allowed major activists to brainstorm in a collective working session meant to promote their common goals. The general seminar examined various human rights challenges facing the people of Punjab and the effectiveness of domestic and international legal remedies in achieving redress for past human rights violations. The multi-national gathering of human rights scholars, lawyers, journalists and other advocates synthesized previous studies and presented fresh research and updates on a variety of issues, including disappearances, judicial impunity, proposals for police amnesty, and current legal matters pending before India's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Moving beyond a mere descriptive analysis of the abuses, the Columbia conference served as a platform for ongoing advocacy efforts aimed at identifying areas of further research and exploring avenues of redress for victims, including the utilization of international legal venues in pursuit of justice for victims of human rights violations.

A highlight of the Columbia conference, the Committee for Coordination on Disappearances in Punjab (CCDP) presented a preview of its Final Report, due for release in the summer of 2002. The CCDP's findings synthesized and analyzed over four years of fieldwork documenting disappearances and the police's role in the matter of enforced disappearances leading to secret cremations, referred to the NHRC by the Supreme Court in December 1996.

From the Columbia Conference Program:

"In India, everybody knows that as far as the legal system is concerned, the process is a part of the punishment." Arundhati Roy, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and human rights activist, March 2002.