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Joint statement on issues in Aarogya Setu & similar digital apps

Joint Statement on Technical, legal, ethical and implementation concerns regarding Aarogya Setu and other apps introduced during COVID-19 in India

by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF),Forum for Medical Ethics Society (FMES), and All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN)

We, the four signatory networks of organizations of public health advocates, experts in digital privacy,
science and technology policy advocates and other stakeholders issue this Statement for generating public understanding and for submission to the Government of India (GoI) and concerned Union Ministries – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEIT), and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) – about our deep concerns regarding the Aarogya Setu (AS) and other similar Apps related to the novel Corona virus epidemic. We are deeply concerned about violation of privacy, and compromised ethical principles and values, due to the AS App‟s design, its deployment, related policies regarding data storage, preservation of privacy and data sharing, as well as overall policy implementation and inadequate legal frameworks for data protection and grievance redressal for users.

To read complete statement- CLICK HERE

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Hum agar uthhe nahin toh / If We Do Not Rise campaign on 5 September 2020

The Hum agar uthhe nahin toh / If We Do Not Rise campaign on 5 September 2020 is a nation-wide campaign having representation from 26 States and more than 400 women’s groups, LGBTQIA collectives and human rights organisations and networks. The campaign is on September 5, 2020 which marks the third anniversary of the assassination of Gauri Lankesh. The campaign is aimed at uniting voices against targeted attacks on the constitutional rights of the people of India.

The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan in its National Coordination Committee Meeting dated 27 August, endorsed this campaign and is one of the participating networks.

Facebook and twitter to follow are:

Fb national campaign page-https://www.facebook.com/IfWeDoNotRise (States are making their own pages too).

Twitter-https://twitter.com/ifwedonot

Click Here for the PRESS RELEASE LAUNCH OF NATION-WIDE CAMPAIGN

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Janta Parliament demands “Right to Health Care” for all.

During the online Janta Parliament (जनता ससंद), envisioned as a simulated virtual People’s Parliament, the session on Health discussed several critical issues and challenges faced by people during the lockdown and unanimously passed a resolution to have “Right to Health Care as a Justiciable Right!”.

The online Janta Parliament held on 16th August, 2020 was attended by around 330 activists across the country. On this occasion, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan and Jan Sarokar release this press release- Click Here

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Statement in Support of Dr. M.A. Anwar, Al Hind Hospital

We, undersigned medical professionals, public health professionals, health networks, women’s groups and civil liberties alliances and networks, academics, former health secretaries, bureaucrats, lawyers, writers, film makers, and other concerned organizations and concerned individuals strongly condemn the malicious naming of Dr. M. A. Anwar, proprietor of Al Hind Hospital in New Mustafabad, in the charge-sheet of FIR 39/20, Gokulpuri Police Station, dated 28 February 2020.

Dr. Anwar and Al Hind Hospital played a significant humanitarian role in saving the lives of people who were affected through provision of urgently needed medical services in a situation fraught with violence and fear.

We urge the police to immediately remove Dr. Anwar’s name from the charge-sheet of FIR (39/20), Gokulpuri Police Station, dated 28 February 2020, as these allegations are unwarranted, fallacious and defamatory. We demand that the police desist from harassment and intimidation and that no arrest be made on the basis of prejudiced and unwarranted allegations and investigation.

To read full statement- CLICK HERE