At the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, representatives of the Sambhali Trust highlighted the plight and resilience of India’s desert communities and cross-border asylum seekers. The organisation used the international platform to connect local experiences from Rajasthan with global advocacy on displacement, dignity and grassroots empowerment.
Govind Singh Rathore, founder of Sambhali Trust, outlined the group’s work supporting women, children and gender minorities through vocational training, primary education and holistic development programmes. Founded in 2007 and granted UN ECOSOC consultative status in 2015, the Trust has broadened its outreach from community projects in Rajasthan to advocacy in international forums.
Rathore drew attention to asylum seekers arriving in Jaisalmer from Pakistan, describing the perilous Thar Desert crossings many undertake—often without food or water—and saying that despite the hardships, many migrants choose to remain in India to preserve their dignity. To bring these stories to Geneva, Sambhali organised two public events: a photo exhibition titled “Desert Daughters of India” on March 24 that showcased visual narratives of women who crossed borders under extreme conditions, and a March 26 side event that featured a film screening and the launch of a publication documenting those experiences.
Volunteer Tasha Mauricette Stoppler emphasised the need to protect minority rights worldwide and described Sambhali’s grassroots approach in Rajasthan, where staff and volunteers work closely with marginalised women and children to identify needs and deliver tailored support. She said the Trust prioritises concrete action to uplift communities while using international venues like the UNHRC to raise visibility for underreported issues affecting gender minorities and vulnerable populations.
Through its presence at the UNHRC, Sambhali Trust seeks to translate local realities into global conversations, urging recognition of the resilience and aspirations of people seeking safer, more dignified futures.
Report sourced from ANI syndicated feed.
