The Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR) was established in January 2009 by a group of NGOs and independent experts working in the field of human rights in India.

The basis of WGHR’s work is national and international human rights law. WGHR works towards the realisation of all human rights in the country and towards holding the Indian government accountable to its national and international human rights obligations. At the national level, WGHR seeks to engage with relevant human rights, government, parliamentary, judicial and academic institutions. At the international level, WGHR seeks to effectively work with United Nations (UN) human rights instruments and mechanisms.

WGHR aims at ensuring better coordination and collective work amongst civil society organizations and other actors seeking to engage with the human rights framework, including the UN system for the promotion and protection of human rights.

The strategies developed by the WGHR aim at achieving the following:

1. Better monitoring of India’s human rights obligations
2. Better engagement of civil society groups with UN mechanisms
3. Better engagement of civil society groups with the government
4. Greater coordination and collaboration amongst civil society groups and other actors
5. More effective work with the media

Members of WGHR:
- Subscribe to all international human rights instruments, including the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international covenants, conventions, declarations, guidelines and general comments by treaty bodies; and

- Uphold international human rights principles, including, indivisibility of human rights, non-discrimination, gender equality, participation, progressive realization and non-retrogression.

Extracts from WGHR’s Operating Principles
Observing that the human rights situation in India has been deteriorating and new threats and challenges have emerged;

Taking note of the fact that India’s human rights record is being monitored at various levels by the United Nations;

Determined to address all human rights violations, by both state and non state actors;

Concerned that the Indian government’s reporting to the UN does not involve participation by local constituencies;

Also concerned that there is insufficient reporting back to local constituencies of developments at the UN in which the State of India has been involved;

Willing to make the best possible use of the various tools and mechanisms provided by the UN system for the promotion and protection of human rights, and to hold India accountable to its national and international human rights obligations; and

Committed to carry out advocacy work to ensure the progressive expansion of India’s international human rights obligations, including the ratification of treaties and Optional Protocols;

Members of the WGHR express their commitment and willingness to work together at this critical point in time and abide by the following operating principles, adherence to which is a prerequisite to joining and retaining membership of the Group:

• Inclusiveness
• Agreeing on a common minimum agenda
• Non-domination
• Respecting the identity of each constituent
• Observing mutual respect
• Sustainability

Founding members of WGHR:
ActionAid India – Asian Centre for Human Rights – FIAN India – Haq: Centre for Child Rights – Housing and Land Rights Network – Human Rights Alert – India Alliance for Child Rights – Lawyers’ Collective – Multiple Action Research Group – National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights – Partners for Law in Development – People’s Watch.

Advisors:

• Ms. Indira Jaising (Member, CEDAW Committee)
• Mr. Anand Grover (UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health)

Contact details:
WGHR
Secretariat: A-1 Nizamuddin East, Lower Ground Floor, New Delhi – 110 013, INDIA
Phone/ Fax: +91-11-2435-8492
E-mail: wghr.india@gmail.com

For more information, please see: www.wghr.org