Archive | South Asia

Petition: UN – Act now and hold member states accountable for elimination of caste-based discrimination

The Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network has launched a petition to call for the United Nations to build forward better on descent and caste-based discrimination. The petition includes concrete recommendations for civil society, UN human […]

November 23rd, 2020|Human Rights Defenders, South Asia, United Nations|

IDSN co-organises global OHCHR webinar “When language excludes and discriminates”

The webinar highlighted the need to move away from using the stigmatising concept of “social distancing”, which has been commonplace across UN agencies during the Covid-19 pandemic, and replace this with the term “safe […]

October 28th, 2020|Health, South Asia, United Nations|

Statement: Rapes of Dalit women and impunity for dominant caste perpetrators must end now

IDSN Statement, October 7, 2020

IDSN strongly condemns the rapes and murders of Dalit girls and women in South Asia. The recent case of gang rape and murder of a 19-year old Dalit woman in […]

October 7th, 2020|Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, South Asia, Violence and atrocities|

Dalit women activists highlight caste and gender discrimination at UN hearing

The need for more attention to be paid to intersectional caste and gender discrimination and for transforming mindsets through human rights education and awareness raising, was highlighted at the UN multi-stakeholder hearing ‘Accelerating the […]

July 28th, 2020|Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, South Asia, United Nations|

Nepal: Bachelet condemns Dalit killings, calls for independent investigation

See the statement below from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet:

 
Nepal: Bachelet condemns Dalit killings, calls for independent investigation
 
GENEVA (29 May 2020) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed […]

Call to action to respond to the suspension of fundamental labour rights in India

IDSN fully endorses the Call to action on Labour Law changes in India, issued by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). The statement calls on businesses sourcing in India to respond to the news that […]

May 27th, 2020|Access to justice, Business, Caste-based slavery, India, South Asia|

IDSN members and associates support Dalits affected by the impact of Covid-19

IDSN members in South Asia and international associates have been quick to offer immediate response and assistance, as the ramifications for Dalits of Covid-19 measures have become clear. While IDSN has issued two general […]

Vulnerable workers in supply chains need urgent protection to survive impact of Covid-19

IDSN Statement – We strongly urge governments and companies with supply chains in South Asia, to take measures to urgently protect migrant and informal workers, including Dalits, against a loss of income, social benefits, […]

Saving lives by preventing discrimination in COVID-19 relief

IDSN Statement – 27 March 2020

As COVID-19 sweeps across the world it is crucial that we ensure that relief, health services and awareness raising efforts are inclusive and accessible to all irrespective of caste, […]

March 27th, 2020|Bangladesh, Health, India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Asia|

IDSN Annual Report 2019

The IDSN Annual Report 2019-2020 covers key developments and activities within IDSN’s work under the thematic areas Dalit women and gender justice, business and human rights and equality and participation, within the United Nations, […]