Ronik Sharma
roniksharma21@gmail.com
Every year, the whole world observes International Human Rights Day to commemorate the adoption of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human rights. This day not only celebrates everyone’s fundamental freedoms but also rights around the globe and this year’s theme is “Our Everyday Essentials”. Factually, every year on December 10th, we are reminded of the importance of equality and fundamental freedoms for all people, which are crucial subjects for each person’s consciousness and development. Due to this the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December,1948, and this day is widely recognised as “International Human Rights Day”. Everyone knows that the celebration of the International Human Rights Day on 10th December every year has its own signifcance, with events conversions, seminars and initiatives happening all across the world by the various forums working on the human rights of an individual. Primarily, the 1948 Declaration also defends and includes Human Rights of an individual, Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for everyone without any discrimination and interference. It also emphasis on Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities. It also empowers Humanity and protects Human Rights so that no one is left behind and no one faces any discrimination. It also encourages to Stand Up for Human Rights, Freedom and dignity without any discrimination. Logically, as per many reports, including media and social media concerning human rights violations of the Hindu community in different countries where they are in minorities and the number of times highlighting persecution of Hindus in the countries of Afganistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia etc. As the whole world including the organizations working effectively on human rights violations observes this occasion every year, the hope and promise of the Universal Declaration of International Human Rights still remains unfulfilled for Hindu minority community people living in the countries where they are in the minority, who are deprived of their basic dignity, freedom of conscience, societal prejudices and fundamental rights. The Declaration outlines many of the fundamental civil, social, political, cultural, and religious rights that form the basis of contemporary international human rights law. Hindus have been subjected to various human rights breaches throughout the majority of South Asian countries, particularly in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afganistan, and some other countries. In several Nations, the Hindu population is persecuted in addition to its quick decline. Thousands of Hindus disappeared, yet this has gone unnoticed by the world fora working for the human rights. They have failed to take strict actions against the persecution of Hindus. Apart from this, in many South Asian countries, Hindus face economic and social marginalization, physical attacks, forced conversions, rape, discrimination, attacks on places of worship, restrictions on their freedom of religion, human rights violations and discriminatory laws. Islamic fundamentalists continue to carry out ethnic cleansing targetting Hindu minority population in Afganistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and some other countries. This includes everyday acts of forced conversions, murder, rape, kidnapping, demolition of Hindu community sacred places and physical intimidation. According to various reported incidents that have been documented, Hindus who live outside of Bharat face discrimination, murder, sexual violence, forced conversions, ethnic cleansing, temple destruction, socio-political exclusion, and disenfranchisement.
In certain nations where Hindus are in minorities, the fundamentalists, with the active connivance of politicians as well as the government establishment, foster hate against these Hindu minority community people and ethnic cleansing of Hindus is their exclusive agenda. Human rights organisation’s operations are called into question because Hindus who live in the minority groups around the world frequently experience daily human rights violations at the hands of state establishments and civil society actors, frequently with no support from local establishments or the global community, and because laws protecting minorities are merely in written form only, and practically the ground situation is totally different. The minority Hindu groups not only face persecution but also experience a variety of forms of physical violence in various parts of the world where they are a minority, including kidnappings, forced disappearances, child trafficking, sexual abuse, looting of shops, vandalism, desecration of holy and religious places, etc. In order to further deny the Hindu community of their basic rights, non-state actors use physical violence in conjunction with state-sponsored violence and legal discrimination by governments and official institutions. Systematic violence and prejudice can take many forms, such as powerless, migration or being barred from public office. The international community frequently downplays or ignores these human rights abuses, which not only harms Hindu’s religious freedom but also human rights in general.
To mitigate violence against the Hindu community in countries where they live in a minority, the present governments and their establishments must prioritize the protection of minorities by enhancing police and military presence at Hindu sites, promote religious freedom of minority community, conducting prompt investigations of assaults, and prosecuting the perpetrators of such violence. International organizations as well as the United Nations exert pressure on countries like Pakistan, Afganistan, Bangladesh, and other countries to implement more stringent sanctions against those who perpetrate violence and also hold them accountable for the violence against the innocent Hindu minority community. To ensure accountability and prevent regular mob violence against the innocent Hindu minority community, human rights organizations must guarantee the establishment of independent commissions to monitor minority rights and their violations. Strict laws that forbid forced conversions, underage marriages, and the misuse of blasphemy must be passed in addition to removing discriminatory provisions that support extremism. In order to conduct comprehensive investigations into occurrences the state should ensure the safety and protection of the minorities and should also establish a Minority Rights Commission and bolster the National Human Rights Commission. International organizations like the United Nations and Amnesty International call for interfaith discussions to foster tolerance, public denunciations of violence, and support for Hindus temple restoration targetted and vandalised by the perpetrators of the violence. International human rights organizations must highlight systematic shortcomings in international studies, so that affected groups may apply for refuge or relocate to safer areas. Bharat has been the home of Hindus for all of recorded history, and Hindus who are dispersed around the world are descended from Bharat. No matter where they are in the globe, Hindus still regard Bharat as their motherland. Therefore, it is the grave responsibility of the government of India, regardless of who is in charge, to keep speaking up on behalf of the persecuted Hindus who are dispersed throughout the world. Hindus are the most peaceful, law-abiding people who genuinely adhere to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Additionally, Hindus honor and revere all of the divine incarnations and also give respect to every religion. Hindus human rights must be taken into consideration by the UN and other organisation, and they must be shielded from persecution. The Indian government must assume the duty of defending Hindus human rights wherever they are violated worldwide and providing assistance to Hindus in need in order to safeguard and maintain Hindu’s cultural legacy and human rights.
(The author is social activist and an advocate by profession)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
