The people living at the border belong to extremely poor, marginalized and vulnerable communities, especially Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims and women. Their civil and political liberties are at a greater risk due to their lack of economic resources, political connections, legal awareness and the inherent discrimination faced by them in the social milieu. At sensitive spaces such as the Indo-Bangladesh border, concerns of national security and territorial sovereignty are sometimes in conflict with integral freedoms such as the freedom of association, movement and livelihood. Many human rights violations such as torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances and so on, take place at the border. There is a need for India to ratify the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) and to enact a standalone legislation to prevent torture in the country.

Since our inception, we have been monitoring incidents of torture and extrajudicial killings in the border districts of West Bengal. We offer medical, psychological and legal assistance to the people who have faced violence and to others in need. We have conducted fact findings into incidents of human rights violations and sent complaints to international and national HRIs, ministries and administrative bodies. In addition to this, we have consistently advocated with domestic and international civil society organizations for the ratification of CAT in India.

Since (enter data) 2007-08, the National Human Rights Commission has recommended monetary compensation in 24 cases of torture and 14 cases of extrajudicial execution on the basis of complaints filed by us.