Publications

Resources

Publications


October 04, 2016

Jail mail - Revisiting Reforms Through Under Trial Review Committees

“Prison reforms have been the subject matter of discussion and decisions rendered by this Court from time to time …Unfortunately, it seems that the views of this Court over the 50 years (since Prabhakar Pandurang Sangzgiri in 1966) have continuously fallen on deaf ears and the situation does not seem to be changing even now.

October 04, 2016

EPIC- Evaluation of Prisoner Information and Cases

Under-trial prisoners constitute a significant majority of the prison population in India.However, in a huge number of cases, pre-trial detention is avoidable and unnecessary. There exist several provisions in the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (Cr.P.C.) within which release of undertrial prisoners can be sought.

September 29, 2016

CHRI Releases Updated Human Rights Advocacy Guide

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) today released an updated handbook on human rights advocacy in the Commonwealth. Our last edition was published in 2005. We work slowly but surely… That said, this recent handbook comes at a time when civil society is fast diminishing across the globe.

September 28, 2016

CHRI responds to Commonwealth watchdog’s opinion on the Maldives

The situation in the Maldives continues to worsen. But the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), the watchdog appointed by the Commonwealth to guard democratic values in member states, continues to bark but not bite. CHRI responds to the latest review of the Maldives by CMAG.

September 28, 2016

CHRI marks Right to Know Day with, well, Information

Today, September 28, is International Right to Know Day. And, no, it’s not a holiday. We are glad to report that the fight to effect right to information laws in the Commonwealth has seen marked success this year. In 2016, Sri Lanka and Kenya enacted information access laws. So far 22 of the 53 Commonwealth member states have passed national level laws.

September 19, 2016

CHRI, in a report, draws attention to dire situation in the Maldives

This submission from the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) draws attention to serious failures of the Maldives government to make progress on priority areas identified by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in February 2016.

September 15, 2016

CHRI revives monthly RTI news digest

This digest of Right to Information (RTI) related news stories across South Asia is a Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) effort to present a monthly compilation of online media coverage on use of public information in the region.

September 09, 2016

CHRI sends submission to the National Human Rights Commission

This CHRI submission to the National Consultation of National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) for India’s 3rd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) includes information on the following areas: overcrowding of prisoners, strengthening legal aid services, custodial violence, access to prison, foreign national prisoners, strengthening police complaints authority, transparency in criminal just

August 22, 2016

Sri Lanka Right to Information Act

The Hon'ble Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka certified their RTI Bill as having been "duly passed by Parliament". With this certification, the RTI Bill has become law in Sri Lanka.

August 19, 2016

Actionable Measures on Police Reforms

It is the State’s duty to provide the public with an efficient, responsive and law-abiding police service. As such, the government must ensure that each police officer and the police as a service go about their functions and duties in a manner that respects human rights and the rule of law, builds confidence and cooperation with the community.