Journalist and writer Aakar Patel stepped down as the Executive Director of Amnesty International India. He has been replaced by Avinash Kumar, announced Amnesty International India on Friday. Avinash’s appointment as the new Executive Director will be effective from December.
Avinash, who is a Ph.D scholar of Modern History from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is currently the Director of Programmes and Policy at WaterAid India, an international non-governmental organisation. Avinash had earlier worked with non-profit Oxfam and was a Charles Wallace Post-Doctoral Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.
“It’s a great challenge to be leading Amnesty International India at a time when civil and political rights seem to be increasingly violated in the context of people asserting their socio-economic rights,” said Avinash Kumar in a press release.
Amnesty International India was recently embroiled in the controversy of caste-based discrimination and mishandling complaints of sexual harassment.
In 2018, Amnesty International India had to downsize the staff by 30% after actions against them by the Enforcement Directorate. However, Mariya Salim, a former employee who had resigned, accused Amnesty International India of having ‘acute under representation’ of the marginalized communities in the higher pay grades, and zero representation of Muslims at decision-making positions.
Mariya had written, “The Executive Director writes articles on how much he cares for Muslims and Dalits in India but him not caring to include those of us from those same backgrounds in discussions and meetings is telling. Taking the microphone away from us does not mean you are helping us. It just means your voice is heard, not ours.”
Meanwhile, though Aakar has resigned as the Executive Director, the board clarified that he will continue to be associated with them.
“The Board takes this opportunity to thank Aakar Patel for his inspiring work and steering Amnesty International India through a difficult period. The Board is happy to note that Aakar Patel will continue to be associated with the movement,” it said in its press release.
