Refugee Laws & Rights of Asylum

Refugee law is the branch of international law which deals with the rights and
protection of refugees. It is related to, but distinct from, international human rights
law and international humanitarian law, which deal respectively with human rights
in general, and the conduct of war in particular. Refugees have been victims of
persecution in their country of origin. Internally displaced persons (IDPs), on the
other hand, have not crossed an international frontier, but have, for whatever
reason, also fled their homes. Refugee law and international human rights law are
closely intertwined; refugees are fleeing governments that are either unable or
unwilling to protect their basic human rights. Despite the fact that India is a host to
diverse groups of refugees, it has no specific laws or cohesive policy for refugees.
With a mission to assist asylum seekers, refugees and other displaced populations
in realizing their basic human rights and accessing the justice system.

Bonded Labour
Though the bondage labour in India was legally abolished in 1976 but it remains
prevalent, with weak enforcement of the law by governments. Bonded labour
involves the exploitive interlinking of credit and labor agreements that devolve into
slave-like exploitation due to severe power imbalances between the lender and
the borrower. It is estimated that there are still 40 million 'bonded labourers' in
India. Dalits comprise the majority of agricultural, bonded and child labourers,
with many surviving on less than USD 1 a day. In September 2011, the NHRC
reported 1,300 cases of human rights violations pertaining to bonded labour. The
practice exists in multiple non-agricultural industries, such as the Devadasi practice
of bonded sex workers, and in small-scale industries like firecrackers, textiles,
leather goods manufacturing, brick and tile kilns, and granite extraction industries.

Dowry
Dowry-related issues in India are a serious problem that affects the lives of women
and girls. Dowry is a response to explicit or implicit demands or expectations of the
groom or his family from the family of girls. The United Nations Division for the
Advancement of Women defines dowry-related violence or harassment as an act
of violence or harassment. The violence and deaths associated with dowry
demands can constitute domestic violence which include physical, emotional, and
economic violence.

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