CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING: US Arms Sale & India’s Human Rights Violations

Please join us for a special Congressional Briefing concerning US Arms Sales to India: The Role of Congress, being held on February 14th, 2024 at 10:30 am. This briefing will take place in room 2043 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

On February 1, the Biden administration notified Congress of intent to sell to India 31 Armed MQ-9B Reaper Drones with accompanying munitions (Hellfire missiles, bombs), hardware and software tech, and personnel for training and maintenance. The proposed sale raises serious questions about the government of India’s possible use of these weapons in violation of human rights law or the laws of war. On a larger level, it raises questions about U.S. foreign policy on India, the trajectory of the US-India relationship, and the Biden administration’s strategies in dealing with the government of India.

These concerns are amplified by the Indian government’s increasingly worrying human rights record and the scope and gravity of new reporting on the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, including Human Rights Watch’s reporting on the worsening trend including its recent 2024 World Report review of India’s record, a recent report by the American Bar Association on the Indian government’s grave abuses of counter-terrorism laws (and Amnesty-Human Rights Watch joint reporting on the same issue), highly concerning new assessments on India by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a new and devastating report on India by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum elevating its warnings on risks of mass violence, and a new report by Amnesty International on targeted demolitions of Muslim properties in India.

Please join a briefing on the proposed sale, including discussion of opportunities for Congressional action to address it, by senior staff from Amnesty International, Hindus for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Center for International Policy.

WHAT: US Arms Sale & India’s Human Rights Violations

WHEN: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 – 10:30 am EST

WHERE: 2043 Rayburn HOB, 45 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC

REGISTER: Click here to register

SPEAKERS:

Carolyn Nash — Asia Advocacy Director, Amnesty International

John Sifton — Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch

Ria Chakrabarty — Policy Director, Hindus for Human Rights

Ari Tolany — Director, Security Assistance Monitor, Center for International Policy