India among 10 worst violators of refugees' rights in USCRI's 2008 list

Washington, June 20 : India is among the ten worst violators of refugees' rights according to the World Refugee Survey 2008, which is releasing the 47th edition of the Survey.

According to a report from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), Bangladesh, China, India, Iraq, Kenya, Malaysia, Russia, Sudan, Thailand, and some countries of Europe were collectively among the worst places for refugees last year.

Some countries around the world deported refugees back to their persecutors, attempted to swamp their boats as they fled over seas, and even sold them into slavery. While others confined them to camps where rape and domestic abuse were common, or stood by while militias recruited their children. Many of USCRI's research partners, including local non-governmental agencies who advocate for refugees and human rights and organizations founded by refugees themselves, will be joining in the release of the Survey.

They are planning press conferences and public events in countries ranging from Bangladesh to Iran to Uganda. In compiling the Survey USCRI worked with nearly 40 indigenous NGO's research partners in refugee-hosting countries.

In addition to highlighting the worst countries, USCRI offered 60 country updates each with grades based on the standards of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

Its statistics also showed the total number of refugees in the world grew to 14 million at the end of 2007, the largest since 2001.

ANI