From the Digital Asia Library

Return to South Asia Web Sites Worth Considering

Human Rights

• Bhima Sangha
  http://www.workingchild.org/htm/prota.htm

  An independent association operating as a union since 1990, for working children and children-worker rights in the State of Karnataka in India, with a membership of 13,000 working children. A founding member of the International Movement of working children and current Asia region coordinator. Website offers history and analysis of issues on children, their relationship to the state, labour rights, and citizenship



• CITU: Centre for Indian Trade Unions
  http://www.citu.org.in/

  A union of workers from the organised sectors of rail, postal, telecom, banking, insurance sectors and unorganised sectors like construction workers, bidi workers, and day-wagers. CITU has become one of the main movers of the National Platform of Mass Organisations. Website details CITU activities, labour struggles by state, and online access to archival documents housed in New Delhi main office



• CWC: Concerned for Working Children
  http://www.workingchild.org/

  Founded in 1980, based in Bangalore and working to empower working children, their families and communities in both urban and rural areas. Involved in unionization of the informal sector where children below the age of 14 years comprise nearly 40 per cent of the work force. Connects child rights with issues of labor, migration, health, agriculture and environment. Launched the Dhudio Makkala (Working Children's) Toofan programme in 1995 to prove that child labor can be addressed effectively



• Dalitstan Organization
  http://www.dalitstan.org/

  A human rights organization working for the upliftment of Dalits. Website subgroups include Library, Sudra Holocaust Museum, Bahujan Samaj, online version of Dalit Voice, Dalit Sena, Sudrology Research Society, Dalit Bookstore, Muslims, Christians, and Hinduism Forum. Website sponsored by Dalitstan Inc., a registered non-profit organization founded in 1999 to promote the cause of the oppressed in India.



• Derechos Human Rights -- South Asia
  http://www.derechos.org/saran/

  First web-based human rights organization using the internet as primary information and communication tool. Website contains links to various reports and documents, specifically relevant to human rights in South Asia.



• GEFONT: General Federation of Nepali Trade Unions
  http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/8535/

  A confederation founded in 1947, of 16 Nepali federations dedicated to the rights, welfare and dignity of the workers. Ceased functioning in 1960 when unions were banned, regained energy in 1979 and formalized in 1989. Website offers information on activities and online access of current issues of "Workers' News" and "Pro-Worker Voice."



• HMS: Hind Mazdoor Sabha
  http://members.rediff.com/hms/

  Established in 1948, as a Centre of Trade Unions which believe in the independence from political parties in trade union work. Membership now is over 4.5 million including Railway Trade Unions; Transport & Dock Workers Unions; Air India Employees; Plantations in West Bengal and Kerala & Tamil Nadu; Coal; Textiles, Steel and Engineering; Forest Product workers, Chemicals, Industry, Seafarers, Electricity. Website offers information on organization and overview of the prevailing Indian Trade Union situation.



• Human Rights in South Asia
  http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/#Human Rights

  Links to full text articles concerning human rights issues in South Asian locations.



• Insan Foundation
  http://www.alternatives.ca/sai/insan/index.html

  A Pakistani non-governmental organisation working since 1990 for the rights of underpriviledged children. Website gives information on projects Vision: Education Centres for Underpriviledged Children; Child Labour Resource Centre; Child Rights Activism Training; and Street Theatre or Mistri Natik (Mechanics' Theatre).



• KashmirNet
  http://homepages.force9.net/kashmir/

  Maintained by Kashmir Watch, UK, connected to UK-based Kashmir Council for Human Rights (KCHR). Kashmirnet is devoted to exposing "the on-going trampling of the human rights in Kashmir and dispelling the falsehoods being dished out by the Indian propaganda machinery...in the hope to save world opinion from coming to wrong conclusions." Website offers background of conflict, press releases, opinion polls, and small archive on paper and news reports and list of links



• KCHR: Kashmir Council for Human Rights
  http://www.ummah.org.uk/kashmir/kchr/index.htm

  Founded in 1990 to campaign for the observance of internationally recognised human rights in Kashmir, the London-based Council lobbies governments, media, human rights groups and the United Nations in the UK and abroad. Website has articles on human rights abuses and oppression.



• KHR: Khalsa Human Rights
  http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ev90495/index.htm

  An independent human rights organization based in Leicester, UK, promoting human rights in India. Established in 1992 in response to the failure of the Indian government to allow independent investigation by internationally recognised organisations of alleged human rights abuses. Focus is primarily on Punjab, the Sikhs, and Sikhism.



• Masum
  http://www.geocities.com/geesen/enzine.htm

  A human rights online journal on West Bengal produced by Calcutta-based Geesen Online; forum established in 1998 by human rights activists in West Bengal. Current online issue is January 2000.



• MNC Masala
  http://www.corpwatch.org/trac/feature/india/index.html

  An extensive set of on line pages on social movements in India published by Corporate Watch. Includes statistics on the Indian economy, local effects of globalization, analysis of neo-liberal economic reforms, descriptions of anti-corporate and anti-poverty movements, and environmental actions. Case studies include Enron, Union Carbide, P&O, Toxic Colonialism, Shell, World Bank, Child Labor, DuPont, DeBeers, and Fisheries. Includes a list of social change organizations as well as interviews with activists such as Medha Patkar, M.C. Mehta, Vandana Shiva, George Fernandes, and Prof. Nanjundaswamy, and profiles of the National Alliance of People's Movements, National Fishworkers Forum, and IndiaLink.



• National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights
  http://www.dalits.org/

  Based in Secundarabad, the campaign seeks solidarity from all sympathetic and sensitive citizens both from Asian countries, where the system of caste continues to marginalise the Dalits, as well as the international community.



• OneWorld South Asia
  http://www.oneworld.net/southasia/index.html

  A site that compiles news and information from an array of sources chosen with a vision of equitable and sustainable distribution of wealth amongst the world's population, protection of human rights and by governance structures which permit local communities control over their own affairs. Dedicated to harnessing the democratic potential of the internet to promote human rights and sustainable development. Regional focus on South Asia, searchable by country.



• Online Center for Afghan Studies
  http://www.afghan-politics.org/

  Online center established by a group of Afghans living abroad, to promote un-biased study of Afghan related political and economic issues as observed by scholars, journalists and students of Afghanistan. Offers bibliographies and information on history, accords & treaties, economy, foreign affairs, human rights, terrorism, and women rights in Afghanistan



• Peoples Union For Civil Liberties
  http://www.pucl.org

  Contains the monthly bulletin of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, founded in 1976. Contains journal, publications, and Jayaprakash Narayan memorial lecture series.



• PILER: Pakistan Institute for Labour Education and Research
  http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/i_aii/piler.html

  Established in May 1982 by a number of concerned individuals belonging to the trade union movement, academics and professionals; a non-official and non-profit institution based in Karachi working toward realizing the full potential of working people; functions as an educational, cultural and literary institution by coordinating research groups, publishing research materials, organizing training courses, and undertaking cultural activities.



• Prepare
  http://www.pcsadvt.com/prepare/index.htm

  An NGO established in 1985, based in Madras to work with the tribal and Dalit peoples primarily in the area of education to deal with people's rights and preventing man-made disasters. Activities also include environmental issues, women's rights, sustainable agriculture, HIV / AIDS awareness and health. Website provides detailed information on projects and online access to newsletter.



• SAHRDC: South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre
  http://www.hri.ca/partners/sahrdc/index.htm

  A New Delhi-based network of individuals seeking to investigate, document and disseminate information about human rights treaties, human rights education, refugees, media freedom, prison reforms, political imprisonment, torture, summary executions, disappearances and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. SAHRDC has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Website includes a resource center with full text documents and an electronic news feature service, Human Rights Features (HRF), with detailed information on human rights, democracy and good governance.



• Social issues Info Lanka
  http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/issues.html

  Gateway site providing links to a variety of human rights issues, news, discussion groups, ethnic conflict, and human rights issues, and politics relating to Sri Lanka



• South Asia Labour Activists Library
  http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/#South Asia Labour Activists Libr

  Links to full text articles concerning labour issues in South Asian locations.

©2005 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer

Trouble seeing the text? Contact the UofM Privacy