UN CERD Finds India After 19 Years, Calls for Action Against Discrimination and Hate Crimes

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) published findings on India after a 19-year gap, expressing serious concerns over caste-based discrimination, minority attacks, shrinking civic space, racial profiling, and migrant treatment. CERD urged India to investigate alleged law enforcement abuses, including extrajudicial killings and torture, and to address hate speech targeting Rohingya, Bengali Muslims, and asylum-seekers. The committee criticized the lack of disaggregated data on marginalized groups and questioned the NRC process. India’s delegation highlighted hate crime laws and constitutional religious freedom, while CERD welcomed ongoing dialogue but stressed urgent action to protect vulnerable communities.