Historical Milestones of the All India Christian Council The Council monitors, documents, advocates and intervenes with the government of India, the national justice system, civil society organizations, and human rights groups. It has a vibrant relationship with global human rights organizations involved with international advocacy for Dalit human rights and freedom of faith in South Asia. The Council’s national and international network has conducted disaster relief during several natural calamities. To give a sense of our past work, selected milestones are listed below.
1998
-- Affiliates with Christian Solidarity Worldwide, led by Baroness Caroline Cox
1999
-- aicc President intervenes in United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities and personally meets with Mary Robinson, head of UNCHR, to discuss freedom of religion and Dalit issues
-- Finishes formal registration process with Indian authorities
-- Gathers over 75,000 people at National Prayer Assembly in Hyderabad in response to growing violence against Christians and lack of reaction by officials
2000
-- Millennium Celebration for Religious Freedom draws 150,000 people to Marina Beach in Chennai
-- aicc Secretary General testifies before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Washington D.C.
-- Forms partnership with Udit Raj and All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations
2001
-- Coordinates global relief by aicc partners for victims of Gujarat earthquake
-- Represents Christian community at Nov. 4, 2001 Dalit conversion ceremony led by Udit Raj in Delhi
-- Appoints bodies and general secretaries in 6 states and creates chapters in 14 states
-- aicc representatives highlight plight of Dalit Christians at UN International Conference on Racism and Racial Discrimination
2002
-- In aftermath of Gujarat’s communal riots, participates in the peace process and initiates rehabilitation camps for Muslim victims, and releases first observer’s report to the global community on the massacres
-- Engages in first civil disobedience action against anti-conversion laws in Tamil Nadu with Confederation. of SC/ST Organisations by participating as Dalits change to non-Hindu faiths
-- Builds fraternal relationship with Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind
-- Responds to killing of Dalits in Haryana with public protest and supports Dalits who change to Buddhism, Christianity, and other faiths
-- Begins partnership with Dalit Freedom Network in USA
2003
-- Forms broader alliance with civil society groups
-- Holds First People’s Tribunal on Atrocities Against Christians in Bangalore; overseen by former Karnataka High Court Justice H.G. Balakrishna and human rights activists
-- aicc Gujarat body successfully challenges several anti-Christian orders and legislation of the Gujarat government (i.e. stops illegal census of Christians)
-- aicc President invited to join the Council on Faith & International Affairs
-- Conducts rallies in multiple states on Dalit Christian issues and freedom of religion awareness
2004
-- aicc President elected International President of Christian Solidarity Worldwide
-- Supports Supreme Court filing to restore affirmative action and equal rights for Christians of Dalit origin
-- Assists People’s Court on Dalit Christian issues held in Madurai presided over by retired Supreme Court Justice P.B. Sawant
2005
-- Advocates for Dalit human rights in United Kingdom, United States, United Nations, and European Union
-- Draws support from all major political parties (except right-wing groups) on issue of Dalit Christian reservations during rally in Hyderabad; about 50,000 attend
-- Coordinates global relief by aicc partners for victims of Asian Tsunami
-- aicc Secretary General accepts invitation to join the National Integration Council presided over by India’s Prime Minister
2006
-- aicc successfully moves the Central Government, the Supreme Court, and a High Court to intervene in Gujarat. Action prevents intimidation, atrocities and forcible conversions of tribals at the Sabri Kumbh Mela in the Dangs.
-- aicc representatives testify before Justice Mishra Commission on development status of Indian Christians; affects Supreme Court’s pending decision to give Dalit Christians equal rights
-- Co-sponsors World Freedom of Religion Day on Oct. 14 in Nagpur to celebrate B.R. Ambedkar’s protest of the caste system and support those who want change their religion
-- Opens office in New Delhi to meet expanding need for advocacy
2007
-- aicc President and delegation of Dalit leaders testify on Dalit slavery before European political bodies on anniversary of abolition of Trans-Atlantic slave trade
-- Organises New Delhi rally to highlight increasing attacks on Christians; over 4,000 protestors engage in civil disobedience
-- aicc National Administrator testifies before UK’s Department for International Development on “Caste, Social Exclusion and Development in South Asia”
-- Partners with Dalit Freedom Network on advocacy campaign resulting in US House of Representatives' resolution of commitment to address the treatment of Dalits and Tribals
-- aicc President and Dalit Freedom Network successfully urge the USA’s National Association of Evangelicals to approve a “Statement of Conscience Concerning the Dalits”
-- aicc leaders intervene with national and local government about unprecedented anti-Christian violence in Orissa over Christmas
2008
-- Coordinates six interfaith NGO meetings across India for Asma Jahangir, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
-- aicc lawsuit causes Orissa High Court to suspend order of Kandhamal District Collector banning distribution of relief by charities after Christmas 2007 violence
-- Organises rallies in Bhubaneswar and Vijayawada, of more than 10,000 people each, to highlight increasing attacks on Christians
-- Hosts official European Union fact-finding team in Orissa
2009
-- aicc President briefs Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom about anti-Christian violence in Orissa
-- First graduation of Dalit-Bahujan students from aicc network of 90 high-quality, English-medium schools operated in partnership with Dalit Freedom Network and supported by Dalit leaders of all faiths.
-- aicc President testifies on Dalit issues before Canada House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights in Ottawa and meets senior government officials.
-- Assists victims of unprecedented anti-Christian riots in Orissa by distributing supplies, pursuing legal cases, and partnering with civil society.
-- aicc Secretary General nominated by India's government to continue serving on the National Integration Council
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