We Say

Greetings from CHRI!

2005 has been a significant year for CHRI's police reforms programme. Our report on Police Accountability was completed and distributed to governments, police organisations and civil society across the Commonwealth. Our efforts to engender more on the ground intervention saw the programme being extended to West Africa. In India, CHRI was invited to make submissions to redraft the archaic Police Act. We have also been greatly encouraged by the response to the Commonwealth Police Watch E-Magazine and will continue our efforts to disseminate information on police reforms and their impact on human rights through this magazine.

As we move in to a new year, there is a realisation that certain issues need to be addressed, and perhaps more forcefully than ever before. There has been much equivocation on the permissibility of torture post 9/11 which has given heart to dictators and detractors of civil liberties. The recent decision of the U.K House of Lords on the impermissibility of evidence obtained through torture may have put to rest the controversy for now, but it is disturbing in the extreme that there was debate at all.

In his message on Human Rights Day, the theme for which, this year is "End Torture Now," the Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon reiterated that torture is a violation of human rights, a violation of international law, and a violation of everything for which the Commonwealth stands. Torture continues because it is allowed to continue. Inexcusably, 24 Commonwealth countries have not ratified or acceded to the U.N Convention Against Torture. Only three have ratified its Optional Protocol, which allows visits to places of detention by independent bodies.

In 2006, let's strengthen our resolve against torture. An important step in this direction would be to move governments to become parties to the Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol. Governments owe a responsibility to ensure that those indulging in cruel, inhuman or degrading practices never go unpunished.

Maja Daruwala
Director, CHRI

Feature Taking Human Rights Hostage - Policing and Australia's Proposed Anti-Terror Laws Each year, the first Tuesday of November sees thousands of Australians flock to the Melbourne Cup horse race, and millions more cheer from afar. This year, on Melbourne Cup day, as the nation celebrated, the government quietly introduced wide ranging anti-terror laws into parliament, proposing to substantially amend the existing criminal code in response to the threat of terrorism. The Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) ("the Bill") signals a serious erosion of basic human rights of the Australian people. The Bill has been passed by federal parliament, in the face of significant opposition. In short, the Bill sets out a legislative regime ("the law") that introduces a system of control orders and allows preventive detention. These changes significantly increase police power in Australia. ...more

President's Police Medal for Gallantry (India) This Medal is awarded for conspicuous gallantry in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals. All police personnel in India, irrespective of rank and length of service are eligible for this award. The Recipients of this Medal are granted an allowance of Rs.200/- per month for life. Police Medal for Meritorious Service This Medal is awarded every year on India's Independence and Republic Days in recognition of a meritorious record in any state police service or in any Central Police Organisation. All police personnel in the country with at least 15 years of service are eligible for this award. The number of medals to be awarded in a year is fixed at 740. The recipients of the award are presented the medals in ceremonies arranged by the State Government or the Central Police Organisation concerned.

HONESTY THE BEST POLIC(E)Y Colonel H_nd_rs_n. "What are you doing there, Sir?" Diogknes (Mr. Bull). "Well, you see, Colonel, till now it seems we've set a thief to catch a thief. I'm looking for an honest man!!" Colone H. "All right! only, when you've found him, you'll have to pay for him!" Diogknes. "And cheap at the money!"

Women in Focus The British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP) The British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP) which is affiliated to the International Association of Women Police was founded in 1987. It is a partly self funded organisation supported by the Home Office and run by an Executive Committee consisting of former and serving police officers from around the United Kingdom. The Association's main objective is to enhance the role and understanding of the specific needs of women who are employed in the police service. Members of BAWP include both female and male police officers from not only the 'geographical' police forces of England, Wales and Northern Ireland but also from police forces such as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police, Royal Air Force Police and others. ...more