Minority and Indigenous Women Human Rights Activists More Prone to Harassment UN Report
Newsclick Report
A United Nations Human Rights
Council report released on Sunday, March 10, noted that women human rights
activists from minority and indigenous background in the country are more prone
to physical attacks, death threats and smear campaign on social media.
Citing the examples of Indian
women human rights activists like Soni Sori and Rana Ayyub, the report
maintained that women human rights defenders are often subjected to online
harassment, violence and attacks, which include threats of sexual violence,
verbal abuse, sexuality baiting, doxing (a practice in which private
information about a person is shared online by others) and public
shaming.
The UN report authored by
Special Rapporteur Michel Forst, stated that former Tehelka journalist Rana Ayyub was particularly targeted on
social media for her religious background. It said, "In April 2018, Indian
investigative journalist Rana Ayyub was subjected to an online hate
campaign and death threats when she was misquoted on Twitter. She was
threatened with sexual violence on social media and subjected to
misogynistic vitriol and hate speech for being a Muslim woman. A deepfake
pornographic video manipulated to include her face was circulated. She was
doxed and bombarded with sexual messages. Her reports to the police
were not taken seriously, and the perpetrators are yet to be brought to
justice."
The report added that women
activists working for tribal rights who have waged struggles against big
corporations and well-resourced government authorities are often implicated and
harassed by police. The case of Soni Sori, a Chhattisgarh-based women right
activist who was subjected to brutal physical and sexual violence for raising
her voice against the atrocities committed on tribal communities also found
mention in the report.
It said,
"In Chhattisgarh, India, for example, adivasi schoolteacher Soni Sori
continues to be slandered, harassed and intimidated by the police for her
activism. In February 2016, she was the victim of an acid attack by
unidentified assailants who warned her not to complain about the Inspector
General of Bastar District and threatened her daughter. In 2011, she was
arrested on eight charges. She was acquitted in seven of them and granted bail
in connection with the eighth. While in custody, she reported being tortured
and sexually harassed."
The report added that Sudha
Bhardwaj who has been fighting court cases related to tribals in Chhattisgarh
too became a victim of smear campaign which ultimately resulted in her arrest.
The report noted, "Sudha Bhardwaj, a lawyer who assists adivasis, dalits,
workers and farmers, endured a vicious smear campaign and was arrested on
August 28, 2018, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Her house was
raided, her personal items seized, and she has been placed under house
arrest."
Globally, the report claimed that apart from
militarisation and fundamentalist groups, globalisation and neoliberal
policies have led to economic disempowerment and power inequalities that
affect the rights of women. Similarly, the powerful states like USA are
adopting polices which are detrimental for women activists working for
reproductive rights. It argued, "Restrictive donor policies have also had
a distinct impact on women defenders. For example, the policy of the
United States of America entitled "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance" (known as the global gag rule), which was introduced in 2017, requires NGOs
receiving funding from the United States to certify that they do not engage in
certain abortion-related activities, including counselling, referrals and
advocacy on access to safe services. The policy has had an adverse impact on
women defenders working on sexual and reproductive rights, HIV, sexual
orientation and gender identity rights and sex workers' rights."