State Policy and Legislation Affecting the Sikhs

Sukhvinder Thandi, SHRG, August 2001

Executive Summary

Rosemary Clark observes, "a right is not what someone gives you but it's what no-one can take away from you". Transcending the core of identity and freedom of individuals, human rights have absolute sanctity regardless of distinctions on grounds such as race, ethnicity, gender, language, religion, and social status. In this sense, human rights recognise the diversity of human beings and human life.

Yet throughout the history of human race, there has been a perpetual struggle of political, commercial and social forces towards conformity against the enduring human nature to protect its diversity in its many forms. It is against this background of a world dominated by western social, commercial and political approaches that treat diversity as a threat rather than a gift to society.

This booklet has been published with the view to constitute a reference point on the issues and challenges the Sikh identity, culture and religion pose to an increasingly shrinking world. It highlights the problems Sikhs regularly encounter in employment, social interaction and other walks of life simply because of their distinct identity. It discusses the affects of national and international legislation on the Sikhs and its failure to accommodate and protect them.