About the Human Rights Defenders: The ‘We20: Peoples Summit’ was organized in the backdrop of the G20 in Delhi by more than 70 Civil society organisations including the National Alliance of People’s Movements, Focus on the Global South, All India Union of Forest Working People, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Environment Support Group (ESG), People’s Resource Centre, People First, Alternative Law Forum, Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, Delhi Forum, Jharkhand Mine Area Committee, Parisar, Basti Suraksha Manch, National Hawkers Federation, Pani Haq Samiti, and Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao etc. The We20 aimed to discuss issues directly affecting marginalised and vulnerable segments of the population including land rights, natural resources, food security, escalating economic inequality, climate justice, and the influence of majoritarian politics.

Details of the Incident: In 2023 India assumed the G20 presidency and hosted G20 Presidency meetings in various cities across India. However, CSOs felt that the concerns of the marginalised and vulnerable citizens were not reflected adequately in the G20 and thus, the ‘We20 Summit’ — with tagline “People and Nature over Profits for a Just, Inclusive, Transparent, and Equitable Future” was supposed to be held from August 18-August 20, 2023, in Delhi. The event was organized by over 70 civil society organisations and the speakers included activists such as Medha Patkar, Teesta Setalvad, Harsh Mander Vandana Shiva, Anjali Bhardwaj, Nikhil Dey, Thomas Franco, and Shaktiman Ghosh. The event was being held at H.K.S. Surjeet Bhawan, which are private premises and don’t need permission. On day 1, August 18, 2022, representatives from peoples’ movements, trade unions, and civil society spoke on how the decisions of the G20 impacted national economies, democratic institutions and fundamental rights and accused Mr. Modi’s government of hostility towards civil society and human rights organisations.

On day 2, August 19, 2022, at 11:30 am, the Delhi police under the central government’s Ministry of Home Affairs put-up barricades and a police force cordoned off Surjeet Bhavan to stop delegates from attending the conference. Those who had already entered were not allowed to leave the building by the police cordons. The people were asked to leave by the police but when they refused to do so, the police prevented entry inside the building. Attendees allege that the police physically tried to stop the participants even those who were elderly and disabled However after the resistance by the people, the event to continue for the day. On day 3, the last day of the summit, the organizers of the summit received a letter from the Delhi police saying that permission for the event has been denied. The organizers of the We20 released a statement saying that “while in the official G20 summit there are claims of us being the “Mother of Democracy”, the state of affairs that we have witnessed here at the We20 Peoples’ Summit only goes on to show how we are inching closer to being a police state. One where even dialogue, deliberations inside the four walls and thoughts are being policed.”