BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 16. An international
conference titled “Racism and Violence Against Sikhs and Other
National Minorities in India: Current Realities”, organized by the
Baku Initiative Group (BIG) and dedicated to the Indian
government’s repressive policies against ethnic minorities, is
being held for the first time in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.


The conference features Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab’s Minister of
Human Rights and Minorities, along with various other officials,
prominent leaders from Sikh communities in Canada, the UK, and the
US, directors of renowned think tanks, scholars specializing in
human rights and ethnic minority studies from esteemed
international academic institutions, and individuals personally
impacted by India’s repressive policies. The event provides a
platform for examining the ongoing human rights violations in
India, particularly those affecting ethnic minorities.


The discussions will focus on systemic racial discrimination,
violence, and oppression faced by Sikhs and other ethnic minorities
in India. Special emphasis will be placed on the Indian
government's continuing violations of its international legal
obligations, particularly under frameworks such as the UN
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination, and the Convention Against Torture. A central theme
of the dialogue will be the advocacy for sustained international
attention, including the call for investigations by the UN Human
Rights Committee into extrajudicial executions, the documentation
of human rights abuses by UN Special Rapporteurs, and comprehensive
international monitoring mechanisms.


The conference will also critically examine the roles of
international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
academic institutions, exploring their contributions through
detailed reports, legal analyses, and policy recommendations aimed
at influencing international decision-making and shaping global
responses to the ongoing crisis.


Will be updated