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Approval and launching of European Union-FNSt sponsored National Project on Preventing Torture in 10 states in India
- The name of the organization was changed from People’s Watch-Tamil Nadu to People’s Watch after considering the length and breadth of the country where we now operate from.
- For the first time, a Psychiatric camp was conducted for the STF affected victims in the premises of Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (RCTV) at Mettur.
People’s Watch has initiated “Volunteer Internship Program (VIP)” with four fresh graduates who have been supported by our educational assistance program of RCTV, giving one year of service back to the organization.
- Release of a book “From Hope to Despair” that speaks about the complaints handling mechanism of the National Human Rights Commission on the basis of our complaints with NHRC
- Initiating Madras Youth Choir Singing training program for ADW School students
- The forming of District Committees based on the first Government Order permitting us to implement HRE in ADW schools has become a successful experiment and experience. The district level officers of ADW department have started owning the program.
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Acknowledging the contribution of IHRE in Human Rights Education, the National Human Rights Commission has nominated Dr. Vasanthi Devi, Chairperson of IHRE, to be a Member of NHRC Task Force on Human Rights Education in Schools and has requested to prepare teacher training manual on HRE for all India.
- Serious advocacy efforts with the Education Minister and with DTERT are most likely to result in the introduction of HRE in all schools in Tamil Nadu from the academic year 2007-08.
- The National Human Rights Commission has nominated Mr. Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director, to be a Member of the NHRC NGO Core Committee.
- Getting positive response from the Department of Municipal Administration of Government of Tamil Nadu to introduce HRE soon in the Chennai Corporation schools as well as in Madurai and Salem corporations. The Sivagangai district administration is to introduce HRE in all schools in the district.
- As a result of our advocacy efforts, Tamil Nadu Government has announced compensation of 20 lakhs to 12 STF affected victims.
- The victims of atrocities appeared for a Hearing held at the National Human Rights Commission on the 7th of December, 2006. At the hearing, the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka conveyed to the Commission, the views of their respective governments that both the governments are ready and willing to respect the decision / recommendation to be made by the Commission with regard to interim relief to the victims of Atrocities.
- People’s Watch has got a project from United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture for the rehabilitation of STF affected victims especially for a mobile health clinic in the STF affected areas.
- UNDP and Ministry of Justice of Government of India has approved a project on “Strengthened Access to Justice in India (SAJI)” to People’s Watch that is to be implemented in all the 604 districts in India
- A record number of training programs were conducted in 2006 throughout India.
- More than 200 human rights training programs have been conducted amounting to more than 365 days on training alone. Out of this, under the EU-FNSt-National
- Project on Preventing Torture alone 103 training programs were conducted in the months of Oct-Nov 2006.
- In 2006, 44 Human Rights Defenders Training programs were conducted and about 1875 human rights defenders were trained on human rights.
- Initiation of Citizen for Human Rights Cells (CHRM) in a number of districts; organizing of District level CHRM Conferences in 3 districts. This is an important beginning towards the building of Citizens for Human Rights Movement in Tamil Nadu.
UP
- Initiation of Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Coordination – TN & Pondicherry (TRRC) in association with CEDA Trust and Tamil Nadu Women’s Committee as Co-conveners with the state secretariat being placed at People’s Watch
- Initiation of the Tsunami Legal Action Committee (TLAC) in association with SOCO Trust & HRLN with the State Secretariate being placed at People’s Watch
- Initiation of Tsunami Response Program
- Launching of a National Program of HRE in Schools in 10 states: Tripura, West Bengal, Orissa, Chattishgargh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry during the UN World program for HRE
- National Public Hearing on Pappapatti & Keeripatti along with NCDHR, HRFDL and DPI
- Facilitation of the First National Consultation of Retired Judges at Bhuvaneshwar along with HRLN
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Facilitation of the STF victims’ meetings with the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the NHRC Chairperson demanding the release of the Justice Sadhasiva Panel’s Report, resulting in report being released
- HRE for lawyers in TN in collaboration with the Bar Council of TN through 6 programs covering over 1000 layers.
- Providing separate buildings for the two RCTVs; in Mettur for STF victims & another in Madurai
- Campaign Against Torture’s first National Public Hearing on Torture at Chennai & National level Training Programs on Torture in Bangalore & Bhubhaneshwar .
- First Taluk level HR Defenders Training program at Ramnad.
- Release of books on “Urimai Kappom”
- Manitha Urimai Kangani goes monthly.
- A Communication Department was established with a new media unit and comprising the existing publication and DC units.
- EU approval for the National level Program on preventing Torture in India in the ten states of West Bengal. Orissa, UP, Bihar / Jharkhand. MP / Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, AP, Karnataka, Kerala and TN
UP
- Training Of Trainers (TOT) Program to combat Torture with AHRC (Hong Kong), OMCT (Geneva), CHRI (Delhi) and HRLN (Delhi) followed by 10 Zonal level trainings.
- National level Public Hearing against POTA at Delhi
- HRE Training Programs for Political parties, Medical and Media professionals initiated
- Conference against death penalty at Marthalli
- Provided immediate relief to 20,000 families, mostly dalits affected by tsunami
- Strategic Planning Program of PW-TN
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Release of books on “Malimath Report” and “Discrimination” (Module III for schools)
UP
- Public hearings at Virudhunagar, Madurai & Chennai in collaboration with National and State Women’s Commissions
- Initiating “Dalit Human Rights Monitoring” project in 12 states
- Conducting 10 District level HR Awareness Conferences all over Tamil Nadu
- Fact finding in Vittukatti police atrocity case and participation in Campaign against Coca Cola plant in Sivagangai District.
- First Human Rights Defenders Conference was held at Madurai
- Release of books on “Statements (by the STF victims before the Justice Sadhashiva Panel of Inquiry)”, “HR Defenders Declaration” and “Child Rights (Module II for Schools) “
UP
- Initiation of “Helpline” within PW-TN
- Introduction of HRE in 258 TN Adi - Dravidar Welfare & Government Tribal Residential (ADW-GTR) Schools
- Fact finding into atrocities against Dalits in Sangan’s case in Goundanpatty, in
Thinniyam and the custodial death of Karuppi and legal intervention in each of the cases
- Cultural Yathra for a week as part of Campaign Against Torture
- Training program for Dalit Lawyers
- First South Asian level Training program on Human Rights - SURETHRI -2002
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Release of books on “Broken People”, “NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) Guidelines”, “International Criminal Court” and “POTA – A Human Rights Perspective”
UP
- Launching of the Campaign Against Torture – Tamil Nadu initiated by the India section of the Amnesty International.
- Initiation of PW-TN’s Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (RCTV)
- Release of TADA detainees from Mysore Jail
- Release of book on “POTA” (Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002)
- Fact finding into police excesses in Sangaralingapuram followed by a Public hearing, resulting in compensation from the Govt. of TN.
- First Summer Camp for Victims’ children and educational assistance to 32 children
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Participation in World Conference Against Racism at Durban.
UP
- The Justice Sadhasiva Panel of Inquiry was constituted by NHRC to inquire into the atrocities committed by Special Task Force (STF).
- Introduction of HRE in colleges
- Release of books: “World Conference against Racism”, “Human Rights in Tamil Nadu”, “HRE an Introduction (Module I for schools)“ and on “TADA”.
- Formally initiating the Institute of Human Rights Education (IHRE) of PW-TN
UP
- Launching of HRE in 238 TNCRI (Tamil Nadu Catholic Religious of India) Schools all over TN
- Training program on HR for police officials initiated.
- Fact finding in the Thamirabarani killings in Tirunelveli, and the public hearing that followed on the same.
UP
- A program on Human Rights Intervention was initiated
- Fact finding of Angammal - Guruvaiah case, Coimbatore Bomb blast cases, Gundupatti, etc.
- Played a pivotal role towards the initiation of the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR)
- Initiation of Human Rights Education in 122 schools covering 10 districts of TN
- Intervention in the Mysore TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987) cases on behalf of 108 victims; a follow up of the fact finding in the Mettur are carried out in 1997.
UP
- Introduction of Human Rights Education (HRE) in 9 schools at Chennai in TN
- Release of PW-TN’s first Tamil magazine, exclusively on HR : “Manitha Urimai Kangani”
- Fact finding of STF (Special Task Force) atrocities in Mettur area of Salem Dist in TN.
UP
- Professional monitoring of human rights violations was started for the first time in Tamilnadu (TN)
- Fact finding of the caste clashes in the southern districts of TN
- First annual report on Human Rights violations in TN
UP
- Inception of People’s Watch - Tamil Nadu (PW – TN) on December 10, 1995
UP
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