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Report on Threats and Retaliation Against a Human Rights Defender

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Background On 13 April 2025 , Mr. Lenin Raghuvanshi , Founder of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and a prominent human rights defender, submitted a formal complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking urgent intervention against an alleged pattern of retaliation by local police officials in Varanasi. The complaint is linked to his role in pursuing NHRC Case No. 16984/24/72/2024-WC , which concerns allegations of brutal sexual violence by a police constable against a woman NGO worker. The communication follows an earlier complaint dated 2 February 2025 (Diary No. 2290/IN/2025), indicating that the threats are ongoing rather than isolated. Alleged Pattern of Retaliation According to the complaint, harassment intensified after the NHRC initiated action in the sexual violence case, including seeking departmental proceedings and recommending compensation for the survivor. The accused constable is reportedly posted at Lalpur-Pandeypur Police St...
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From Trauma to Justice: Building a Psycho-Legal Shield Against Torture in India — The Impact of Project 993-DA-2

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Mr. Ashish Pandey, Governing Board Member of PVCHR and Senior Advocate, interacting with survivors of torture in Sonbhadra, providing legal guidance and reinforcing access to justice through survivor-centered support . Police Torture in India: Documentation, Trends, and Psycho-Legal Response Under Project 993-DA-2: Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to Reduce Torture and Other Violence (TOV) in India Implemented by: Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) Supported by: United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNVFVT) Executive Summary Police torture continues to represent one of the most severe threats to human dignity, rule of law, and democratic accountability. Under Project 993-DA-2 , Jan Mitra Nyas has systematically documented cases, supported survivors, and pursued institutional remedies through a psycho-legal framework that integrates legal intervention with trauma-informed care. The evidence reveals that torture is not merely episodic misconduct but often reflects structural weakne...
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Restoring Sight, Health, and Dignity: Health Camp Initiatives for Torture Survivors and Marginalized Communities – 2025

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Health Camp Report – 2025 Project: 993-DA-2: Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to Reduce Torture and Other Violence (TOV) in India Organization: Jan Mitra Nyas Supported by: UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture In 2025, Jan Mitra Nyas implemented a series of health-focused interventions to improve access to essential healthcare for torture survivors and marginalized communities. A total of three health camps were organized, benefiting 214 individuals , including 170 women and 44 men . The largest camp, held on 18 March 2025 at Kathirav, Varanasi , served 143 beneficiaries , identifying 44 cataract patients for free surgery, lens implantation, and post-operative care, thereby supporting rehabilitation and dignity restoration. Another free eye screening camp on 10 April 2025 at Swaraji Devi Balika Inter College, Pindra , screened 43 individuals , with 25 patients diagnosed with cataract and referred for free treatment along with transportation support. Additionally, a special ...
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Building Capacity for Change: Strengthening Psycho-Legal Support to Combat Torture in India

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  Training Report with Analysis (1 January – 31 December 2025) Project: 993-DA-2: Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to Reduce Torture and Other Violence (TOV) in India Organization: Jan Mitra Nyas Supported by: UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture 1. Introduction Capacity building is a core component of effective psycho-legal intervention and victim support. During 2025, Jan Mitra Nyas organized a series of structured training programs to enhance staff competencies in monitoring, evaluation, medico-legal practices, intervention strategies, and public advocacy. These trainings aimed to strengthen institutional response mechanisms for survivors of torture and other violence while improving program implementation. 2. Training Overview According to the training report covering 1 January – 31 December 2025 , a total of 7 training programs were conducted with 178 participants , including 126 male and 52 female participants. Most trainings were internal, ensuring consistent org...
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Listening as Justice: Testimonial Therapy, Institutional Accountability, and Community Healing in 2025

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Justice in democratic societies is often imagined as something delivered through courts and legal verdicts. Yet long before a judgment is pronounced, justice begins when institutions and communities choose to listen. The experience of testimonial therapy in 2025 demonstrates this profound truth — that structured listening, public recognition, and psychosocial care can restore dignity while strengthening accountability. During the year, testimonial therapy reached 151 survivors , including 87 women and 64 men , reaffirming the importance of gender-inclusive trauma support. The initiative extended beyond private counseling by organizing 151 honour ceremonies — 56 collective and 95 individual — transforming personal suffering into public acknowledgment and reinforcing survivors’ social legitimacy. Survivor Profile and Nature of Harm Among the participants, 119 were primary victims and 32 secondary victims , highlighting the far-reaching consequences of violence on families and communiti...
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