‘You Have No Right to Drink With Me’: Dalit Man Stabbed and Beaten With Stone by Friend in MP’s Gwalior

A disturbing case of caste-based violence has been reported from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, where a drunken argument between two friends turned into a assault. According to the police, Balveer Valmiki and Vijay Sharma, both residents of Mahavir Colony, were friends. On Sunday afternoon, Vijay allegedly invited Balveer to drink near Badanpura on Tighra Road. The two consumed alcohol together, but as evening fell, an argument erupted between them. Vijay reportedly began hurling casteist slurs, saying, “You belong to a lower caste; you have no right to drink with me.” When Balveer protested, Vijay’s anger escalated he allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Balveer in the neck. When the victim collapsed, bleeding heavily, Vijay picked up a large stone and struck him on the head before fleeing the spot. Balveer remained unconscious throughout the night until passersby discovered him the next morning and alerted the police. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors said his condition is now stable but that he sustained deep wounds to his neck and skull. Based on Balveer’s statement, police registered a case and launched a search operation. Acting on the directions of Station Officer Ratnambar Shukla, a team arrested the accused Vijay Sharma near his home. This is not an isolated incident. In October, a Dalit driver from Gwalior had alleged that three men kidnapped, assaulted, and forced him to drink urine in Bhind district. Just days earlier, another Dalit youth was reportedly urinated on in Katni for protesting against illegal mining. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 data, crimes against Scheduled Castes continue to rise nationwide, with 57,789 cases registered last year, marking an increase from 2022. Madhya Pradesh recorded 8,232 such cases, placing it among the top three states for caste-related crimes, after Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
BJP bets big on Dalits, Mahadalits as Bihar gears up for Phase 2 polls

For the second phase, the BJP has put its focus on consolidating Dalit and Mahadalit votes, which account for 18% of Bihar’s electorate. This bloc wields considerable influence on more than 100 assembly seats As Bihar gears up for the second phase of assembly elections, the BJP has put its focus on consolidating Dalit and Mahadalit votes, which together account for around 18% of the state’s electorate. This bloc wields considerable influence on more than 100 assembly seats, and its voting pattern holds the key as to which side will form the next government. Leading up to November 11, the BJP has centred its campaign on constituencies bordering Uttar Pradesh — particularly in the districts of West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Bhojpur, Buxar, and Kaimur. These districts are adjacent to UP’s Deoria, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Ballia, and Sonbhadra. UNITING MAHADALIT AND PASWAN VOTERS The BJP estimates that Mahadalits constitute about 13% and Paswan voters around 5% of Bihar’s electorate. In the 2020 assembly election, the votes got split after Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) contested separately. This time, Chirag Paswan is in the NDA fold, and the BJP is determined to prevent that split. The BJP estimates that former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM will help secure nearly 2.5% of the Musahar votes, while Chirag Paswan will ensure that about 5% of Paswan votes end in the NDA’s kitty. EYE ON MAYAWATI FACTOR The BJP is also closely monitoring Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). While Mayawati initially announced candidates for all 243 seats, only about 190 are in the fray after some nominations were cancelled. At a recent rally in Kaimur’s Bhabua, Mayawati attempted to consolidate the Ravidas community, a significant Dalit sub-group. BJP believes Mayawati’s party may secure up to 5% of Ravidas votes. A split will only indirectly benefit the NDA. In the last Assembly polls, the BSP fielded candidates on 78 seats and secured 2.37% of the total votes. It won one seat, Chainpur, whose MLA later joined the JD(U). The party has a relatively strong base in western Bihar, especially in districts like Kaimur, Rohtas, Ara, and Buxar. NDA’S CANDIDATE MATH To appeal to the Dalit community, the NDA has fielded 39 candidates from the Scheduled Castes. The NDA has also attempted to maintain a careful caste balance within Dalit and Mahadalit sub-groups, ensuring representation for Ravidas, Musahar, Pasi, Bhuiya, Dhobi, Dom, Nat, Bhogta, and Kanjhar communities. For the second phase, the BJP’s mission is clear: prevent the fragmentation of Dalit and Mahadalit votes like the 2020 polls. It remains to be seen if the BJP’s intricate social engineering pays off. Himanshu Mishra Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
“Faith cannot be fenced by caste”: Madras HC allows temple chariot to pass through Dalit neighbourhood

The Madras High Court has ordered that temple chariot of Muthu Kolakki Amman Temple be allowed to pass through a Dalit neighbourhood, observing that “faith cannot be fenced by caste or creed,” while hearing a plea by a Dalit man seeking permission to pass through the Dalit colony for his community to enter the Temple and participate in its rituals amid opposition from upper-caste residents,” the Live law reported. “Faith cannot be fenced by caste or creed and divinity cannot be confined by human prejudice. God does not reside in certain streets alone. No street is unworthy of the chariot or the god it carries. God never discriminates. So discrimination cannot be wrapped in the sanctity of tradition,” Justice PB Balaji remarked. The court was hearing a petition filed by a man belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, directed authorities to allow the Muthu Kolakki Amman temple car to pass through the Dalit colony and ensure peaceful conduct of the procession. The petitioner had approached the court seeking directions to the Kancheepuram District Collector, Superintendent of Police, HR&CE Joint Commissioner, Tahsildar, and others to permit his community to enter the temple and participate in its rituals and car festival. He alleged that upper-caste residents had long resisted their participation, despite the temple being managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, and that representations to officials had gone unanswered. The court observed that through Article 17 of the Constitution, untouchability was abolished “not just in physical form but in true letter and spirit,” stressing that no one could dictate “who is entitled to stand before the deity and worship.” It further noted that all respondents had affirmed there was no bar on anyone entering the temple or participating in its festivals. The District Collector informed the court that a field inspection revealed no restriction preventing Scheduled Caste members from entering the temple or taking part in the car festival. Although private respondents opposed altering the traditional chariot route, citing decades of custom and possible complications, the Collector found that the requested extension was feasible without disrupting the festival’s historic character. Taking note of this report, the court directed the Collector to implement the proposed integrated route during both the trial and main processions, ensuring that the event proceeds smoothly with adequate police protection. Reiterating that “faith cannot be fenced by caste or creed,” the court held that “discrimination cannot be wrapped in the sanctity of tradition.” Many believe that despite constituting around 16.6% of India’s population, Dalits continue to face deep-rooted social stigma, exclusion, and violence. From being denied entry into temples to facing social boycotts and even brutal assaults for asserting their identity, caste-based discrimination remains pervasive. Earlier in 2024, Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district, the village of Thenmudiyanur, became a site of struggle for Dalit dignity when upper-caste Hindus boycotted a temple after Dalits were granted entry. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Mythology: The Durga of Dalit Narrative

Because this retelling comes from a Dalit scholar, any challenge to it is immediately painted as casteist. In recent years, there has been a growing clash between ‘Sanatani mythology’ and ‘Dalit mythology’. During the festival season last month, a well-known Dalit activist argued that the worship of Durga is nothing but the celebration of an Aryan invasion of Dravidian lands. In his retelling, Mahishasur, the buffalo demon, represents dark-skinned Dravidians while Durga represents fair-skinned Aryans. Because this retelling comes from a Dalit scholar, any challenge to it is immediately painted as casteist. But the Dalit retellers are following the toolkit long used by Sanatani activists who brand their critics as anti-national or communist. This is how ideological battles are fought today. Labels need to be weaponised. Myths need to be reimagined. Political groups across the spectrum have always bent old stories to fit new narratives. In his 1873 book Gulamgiri (Slavery), Jyotiba Phule reimagined the Devas-Asuras wars as colonisation of ancient Dravidian lands by Aryan infiltrators. Great Asura kings like Prahalad, Virochana, and Bali were seen as demons. By turning ‘gods’ into colonisers and ‘demons’ into heroes, Phule gave Bahujan communities a counter-history. If Brahmins could use mythology to establish their supremacy, surely Dalits could use the same for social justice. Sanatanis have long tried to debunk the Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT), arguing it was simply colonial propaganda. Some even propose the Out of India Theory (OIT) that claims Brahmins gave civilisation to the world. Ironically, it was Balgangadhar Tilak, the founding father of the Sanatani political ideology, who first decoded astronomy-based Vedic hymns to show that the Aryan homeland may have been north of the Himalayas, near the Arctic, probably. The Vedic ‘Usha’ hymns spoke of a land where there were dawns without any visible sun. In the 20th century, Babasaheb Ambedkar rejected AIT as it was a racial theory aimed at establishing Brahmin-European-Aryan superiority. He argued caste was a social, economic, and political problem, not a racial one. But now, in the 21st century, we have a new source of evidence – genetics! DNA studies clearly show migration of Steppe pastoralists and horses into India took place over 3,000 years ago. Aryans did come to India. But not as invaders who destroyed the Harappan cities. They came to trade Central Asian horses for Indian iron, 500 years after Harappan cities had ceased to exist. Both Sanatani and Dalit activists rarely bother with art or ritual history. The image of Durga with many arms, killing the buffalo, first appeared around 2,000 years ago in Kushan art (100 AD). It was first carved in stone during the Gupta period (400 AD). The Sanskrit story of Durga being created by the gods and restoring paradise to Indra appears much later in the Markandeya Purana (600 AD). Across India, especially in the Deccan, there are folk traditions where worship of the goddess involves a ritual slaughter of a buffalo. These orally transmitted tales are fragmentary and layered. The young, virile priest who performs the ritual is called Pota Raju, the Buffalo King. He, typically, hails from a ‘low’ caste. He calls himself the servant and son of the goddess. He leads the procession to the temple. The goddess is pleased by rituals involving violence (fire-walking, hook-swinging, blood sacrifice). Every year, a young male buffalo (reda, in the local language) is chosen to be slaughtered the following year, a ritual mimicry of the renewal of earth’s fertility. This suggests that the festival originally had little to do with grand cosmic battles between gods and demons. It was an agricultural ritual, deeply tied to cycles of sowing and harvesting. This story has nothing to do with the Vedic world. Brahmins, who rarely participate in such boisterous village rituals, insist the goddess of the village was once a Brahmin girl. She was tricked into marrying a beef-eating man. When she discovered this, she killed him, and that event is remembered each year. They argue this is why many goddess temples are now vegetarian – the Chamunda temple in Mysuru, the Ambabai temple in Kolhapur. In fact, many Sanatanis think Bengalis need to stop offering meat and fish to Durga during their annual Pujo. Dalit myth-makers are using this very same story to make the outraged Brahmin’s daughter the symbol of Aryan oppression and her beef-eating husband the embodiment of the oppressed. Today, young Dalit activists are raising foundational questions: who makes the rules of Hinduism? Do those categorised as ST/SC have any say in the matter? Who classified those who eat cow meat as impure and those who drink cow urine as pure? It could not have been the goddess or the buffalo. The writer works with gods and demons who churn nectar from the ocean of Indian, Chinese, Islamic, Christian, even secular mythologies. Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Devdutt Pattanaik Courtesy : DH Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanherald.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Mathura News: Powerful people encroach upon Dalit’s land

Nauhjheel. A Scheduled Caste farmer from the village of Managarhi in the town has written to the Prime Minister, accusing powerful people of encroaching upon his land. The victim alleges that despite complaints to the District Magistrate and the Public Hearing Portal, his grievances are still unheard. Farmer Satpal, a resident of Managarhi village, wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister that the previous government had allotted approximately six bighas of land to his elders because they were a landless family. Currently, Jogendra and Premchand, who are disabled since birth, are co-owners of the land. However, named powerful people from the village have encroached upon approximately one and a half bighas of his land. These powerful people constantly threaten him. Deputy Tehsildar Rakesh Upadhyay stated that the matter is under consideration. Saturday has already been scheduled for the repossession. Courtesy: Hindi News
Madhya Pradesh: Court issues major decision in Dalit forced urine case, accused to remain behind bars

A major decision has been reached in the Bhind Dalit case. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the bail plea of the accused. A Dalit youth was beaten and forced to drink urine in Surpura, Bhind district. Police arrested three accused and took action under the SC-ST Act. Madhya Pradesh Bhind Peshab Kand News: A major court decision has been reached in the highly publicized case of a Dalit youth being forced to drink urine in Bhind district, Madhya Pradesh. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the bail plea of the accused. Now, the accused will remain behind bars. A Dalit youth was beaten in the Surpura area of Bhind district. It is alleged that he was then forced to drink urine. The Bhind District Court had already rejected the bail plea in this case. Now, the Gwalior bench of the High Court has also denied bail. Senior advocate Anil Mishra represented the accused, Alok Sharma. It should be noted that on October 20, 2025, Gyan Singh Jatav, a Dalit, was beaten and forced to drink urine in Bhind district. Acting swiftly in response to the harassment, Bhind police registered a case under various sections of the SC/ST Act, including assault, kidnapping, and the SC/ST Act, and arrested the accused, Sonu Barua, Alok Sharma, and Chhotu. The entire story of the Dalit youth being forced to drink urine in Bhind is that Gyan Singh is a driver by profession. He claims that on October 18, Sonu Barua, a villager, asked him to work as a driver on his vehicle. In a media interview, Gyan Singh stated that these individuals were criminal in nature, so he refused to drive their vehicle. They then abducted him from his home at gunpoint, assaulted him, and forced him to drink urine. A major decision has been reached in the Bhind Dalit case. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the accused’s bail plea. The incident of a Dalit youth being beaten and forced to drink urine occurred in Surpura, Bhind district. Police arrested three accused and took action under the SC-ST Act. Reported by: Dev Shrimali, Edited by: Vishwanath Saini Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman and Kshatriya man marry in a temple: Some family members offered blessings, while the woman’s mother filed a police complaint seeking action.

A Dalit woman and a Kshatriya man were married in a temple in the Kumarganj police station area of Ayodhya district. Following this inter-caste marriage, some of the woman’s family members blessed the newlyweds, while her mother filed a police complaint seeking action. According to reports, a Dalit woman from a village in the Kumarganj police station area was in a love relationship with a young man working as a part-time driver at the Agricultural University in Kumarganj. They wanted to marry, but their families disapproved. After disagreement with their families, the woman left with her lover. After considerable efforts by her family, she returned, but remained adamant on marrying the man. The matter even reached the Kumarganj police station, where the police refused to intervene, calling it a family dispute. However, the police were secretly involved in the marriage. Following police guidance, the couple married in the famous Jalipa Bhavani temple complex. They exchanged garlands and vowed to live together. The village head representative and some of the woman’s family members reportedly blessed the marriage. The man is a resident of a village in the Pura Qalandar police station area of Ayodhya. According to sources, the woman’s mother has filed a written complaint with the police regarding the entire incident. When contacted, Kumarganj police stated that the man and woman had come to the police station, but they had no information about where they were married or where they had gone. The police also did not provide any information about the complaint letter submitted by the woman’s mother. However, a police station employee stated that the outpost in-charge was aware of the matter and efforts were being made to recall them. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Faith Can’t Be Fenced By Caste’: Madras High Court Allows Temple Car Route Through Dalit Colony

Discrimination can’t be wrapped in sanctity of tradition; no one can dictate who is entitled to stand before the deity, Court added. The Madras High Court recently paved the way for a temple car to pass through a Dalit colony. Justice PB Balaji remarked that God never discriminates and no street was unworthy of the chariot or the god it carried. “Faith cannot be fenced by caste or creed and divinity cannot be confined by human prejudice. God does not reside in certain streets alone. No street is unworthy of the chariot or the god it carries. God never discriminates. So discrimination cannot be wrapped in the sanctity of tradition,” the court said. The court added that through Article 17 of the Constitution, untouchability was abolished not just in physical form but in letter and spirit also. The court added that no one could dictate who could or could not stand before the deity and worship and there was no bar for any person to enter any temple and worship. “The Constitution of India under Article 17, abolished untouchability. Such abolition was not just in physical form but in true letter and spirit. Therefore, none can dictate terms as to who is entitled to stand before the deity and worship and who cannot. In any event, all the respondents, have in unison, stated that there is no bar for any person belonging to any community to enter the Temple and worship the deity. In the light of the above, I do not see any difficulty in recording the stand of the respondents and this would sufficiently address the grievance and apprehension of the petitioner with regard to one part of the prayer in the writ petition,” the court said. The court was hearing a petition filed by a man belonging to the Scheduled Caste community. The man had approached the court seeking directions to the Kancheepuram District Collector, Superintendent of Police, HR & CE Joint Commissioner, Tahsildar and other caste Hindus to permit him and other people belonging to his community to enter the Muthu Kolakki Amman temple and to participate in the ritual activities. He also sought directions to permit the persons from the community to participate in the car festival, by allowing the temple car to come to the Dalit colony. The petitioner had alleged that there had been resistance from the persons belonging to the upper caste community against the participation by members of the downtrodden communities. He further argued that though the temple was being managed by the Hindu religious and Charitable Endowment Department, the discrimination continued even now, and the caste Hindus had taken law into their own hands and were not permitting members from the Scheduled Caste community to worship the deity. The petitioner further submitted that, though representations were given to the authorities, no action had been taken, prompting him to approach the court. The District Collector informed the court that as per a previous order, a field inspection was conducted and there was no prohibition for the petitioner or persons belonging to his community to either enter the temple, worship the deity or from participating in the festivals including the temple car festival. The private respondents, however, objected to the plea and argued that a particular car route had been adopted and was being followed for the past several decades. It was argued that there was no necessity to change or alter the route, which would only lead to more complications. It was argued that if the request was permitted, other persons would also want the temple car to visit their streets, and there would be no end. The private respondents also denied allegations of untouchability and argued that the community was never prevented from participating in the temple functions. The District Collector, after examining the routes, informed the court that the requested extension was feasible without affecting the historic character of the procession. Taking note of the Collector’s report, the court directed the Collector to proceed on the lines of the proposed integrated route, both during the trial run and the main run. The court directed the official respondents to ensure that the temple procession was conducted peacefully and that sufficient protection was provided both during the trial run and main run. Upasana Sajeev Courtesy : Live Law Note: This news is originally published on https:/livelaw.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit man dies in RPF custody in Gonda, family alleges torture with iron rods and knives

Three Railway Protection Force personnel are suspended and charged with murder as protests erupt in Gonda over alleged custodial killing and demand for justice intensifies A Dalit man has died in Railway Protection Force custody in Gonda district, his family alleging the body had “deep injury marks” indicating an assault with “iron rods and knives”. The doctor who conducted the postmortem said Sanjay Kumar Sonkar, 36, had been “dead when brought” and that the cause of death was unclear, while hinting at possible viscera tests. Three personnel of the RPF, which reports to the central government, have been charged with murder and suspended. This is the third allegation since October of a Dalit being tortured to death in Uttar Pradesh. A farm labourer was allegedly beaten to death by a rich landowner and his associates on Sunday for demanding ₹2,500 in unpaid wages in Amethi. On October 1, a Dalit was branded a “drone thief” and lynched in Rae Bareli. Three RPF men had picked up Sanjay — a farm labourer — from his home in village Kinki on Tuesday “to question him” about the theft of petrol from a goods train, his younger brother Raju told reporters. “They let him off after a few hours. They returned after a while and took him to a shopkeeper in the adjoining village of Barua,” Raju said. “They then took him to an unknown place, and later to the local medical college hospital on Wednesday. Someone told us in the evening that he had been brought dead to the hospital and that we had to collect his body.” He added: “They (RPF) held him for over 20 hours. We saw several deep injury marks on his body as if he had been hit by iron rods and knives.” Vivek Trivedi, the officer in charge of the local police station, said RPF sub-inspector Surendra Kumar, constables Karan Singh Yadav and Amit Kumar Yadav, and “an unidentified person” had been booked for murder. “The RPF was probing oil theft from a goods train near Baruachak railway station on September 28. Sanjay was picked up on suspicion,” he said. Aniruddh Rai, the officer in charge of the local RPF post in Motiganj, said the three accused personnel had been suspended and a departmental probe ordered. “The RPF wanted to know from Sanjay who was involved in the crime. The RPF was also looking for one Rampher Kumar,” Rai said. “Sanjay told them that Rampher had gone to his in-laws’ home in Mankapur, a village some distance away from Kinki. The team took him to Mankapur but Rampher had already fled. Sanjay’s condition deteriorated during interrogation and he was taken to the medical college.” Rai neither confirmed nor denied torture. Mahendra Prasad Dubey, assistant security commissioner of the RPF in Gorakhpur, said: “A custody death is a serious matter. We are probing all aspects.” Dr Kuldeep Pandey, who did the postmortem but asserted the cause of death remained unclear, was quoted as saying: “We have preserved his viscera for future investigation.” Raju said Sanjay’s wife Geeta had been unconscious since learning of his death and had been admitted to the emergency ward of the same hospital. “RPF people come to our village every now and then and threaten to beat or arrest us if we commit any crime,” he said. “The nearest RPF post is 10km from our village. This was the first time they took away someone with them.” Police sources said a large number of local Dalits had gathered in Kinki to protest the “custody murder”. Gonda additional superintendent of police Manoj Kumar Rawat said: “We have stationed forces in the village to maintain law and order.” Piyush Srivastava Courtesy : The Telegraph India Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetelegraphindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Allahabad HC orders Dalit women to return ₹4.5 lakh compensation after they retract their complaints

Court also slapped 5 lakh fine on accused for manipulating the victim The Allahabad High Court on Thursday (November 6, 2025) ordered three Dalit women to return the ₹4.5 lakh compensation they had collectively received from the Uttar Pradesh government after they retracted their statements recorded before a magistrate. The Allahabad High Court on Thursday (November 6, 2025) ordered three Dalit women to return the ₹4.5 lakh compensation they had collectively received from the Uttar Pradesh government after they retracted their statements recorded before a magistrate. A Bench of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav also slapped a ₹5 lakh fine on the 19 men, accused of assaulting the women, for manipulating the victims. The matter pertains to a complaint filed by a woman and her two daughters-in-law against 19 upper-caste men, for trespassing, assault, criminal intimidation and offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at Yamunapar police station in Prayagraj district in July last year. The matter is currently at the trial stage in a local court, which had summoned the accused persons. The accused later approached the HC seeking quashing of the cognisance and summoning orders from the trial court. During a hearing earlier this month, the complainant told the court she never lodged any complaint with the police and claimed that her thumb impressions were taken on a blank paper. However, the lawyer representing the State submitted that the complainant and her daughters-in-law’s medical reports and statements recorded before the magistrate, in which they unequivocally supported the prosecution. The court was also informed that each woman received ₹1.5 lakh compensation from the government. “The Court finds it deeply disturbing that the complainant now denies having filed the FIR, despite having made statements under Section 164 Cr.P.C. affirming the allegations and having availed of substantial monetary compensation under the statutory scheme meant for genuine victims of atrocities,” the court said, ordering the women to return the compensation. Justice Yadav noted that the women’s conduct prima facie reflects a “serious abuse of the process of law” and “a gross misuse of the benevolent provisions of the SC/ST Act”. Terming the sequence of events as “deliberate attempt to manipulate the criminal justice process after wrongfully obtaining public funds, thereby committing a fraud upon the State”, the court also imposed a ₹5 lakh cost on the appellants to deter recurrence of such manipulative conduct. Ishita Mishra Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights