Archive | Key Issues

IDSN condemns religious attacks on Dalits in Bangladesh

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MRG condemns widespread attacks against Hindu minority in Bangladesh (Minority Rights Group)

“Since 2013 the worsening political crisis, rising extremism, and the issue of impunity and lack of enforcement of legal provisions have […]

October 21st, 2021|Bangladesh, Violence and atrocities|

Join IDSN for the preview screening of ‘I am Belmaya’ – a Dalit woman’s transformative journey in Nepal

Please join IDSN for an exclusive online preview of the upcoming, award-winning feature documentary I Am Belmaya, with live Q&A on Thurs 7 Oct with director Sue Carpenter and co-director/subject Belmaya Nepali, hosted by IDSN.

September 14th, 2021|Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, Nepal|

‘Can justice be bought?’ seminar assesses Norway’s new Transparency Act and how stakeholders can address caste discrimination in supply chains.

The event was opened by Guro Almås, senior adviser in the Church Council / Interchurch Council, who addressed the possibilities for both national and international developments in business and human rights and stressed the […]

September 1st, 2021|Business|

Addressing caste-hate speech in a global context: Brief and recommendations for UN and EU actors

Download the full brief and recommendations here >>

The brief is based on the report Caste-hate speech: Addressing hate-speech based on work and descent published by IDSN in March 2021. 

August 14th, 2021|Caste-hate speech, European Union, United Nations|

India’s health inequality severely affects Dalits

Indian society is extremely unequal. Decent healthcare is a luxury mainly available to those who can afford it. The poor and marginalised, including Dalits, are much more likely to suffer from ill health than […]

New Report: Dalits work in slavery-like conditions in India’s cotton seed production

The new report Seeds of Oppression by ARISA describes slavery-like conditions in Gujarat’s cotton sees industry. Workers, many Dalits, produce cotton seed, yet receive no wages and owe the landowner debts.

Read the full report […]

August 3rd, 2021|Business, India|

Champion of tribal (and Dalit) rights dies following imprisonment

Father Stan Swamy, 84, a courageous and dedicated campaigner for the rights of India’s indigenous Adivasi community, has died from Covid-19 complications. He had been imprisoned on terrorism charges since October 2020.

A powerful […]

July 7th, 2021|Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, India|

OECD Watch report says revised OECD guidelines should specifically include caste

The report Get Fit: Closing gaps in the OECD Guidelines to make them fit for purpose stresses the need to address discrimination based on caste explicitly in the OECD Guidelines that are up for revision. IDSN is working with OECD Watch and ARISA (Advocating Rights in South Asia) to ensure that these revisions take note of the prevalence of caste in Multinational Enterprises.

June 30th, 2021|Business, Dalit Women, India, South Asia|

Caste, gender justice and the right to freedom of opinion and expression – IDSN UN submission

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Contribution from the International Dalit Solidarity Network – IDSN to the UNGA76 report on Gender Justice and the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression by the UN Special Rapporteur on the […]

June 15th, 2021|Dalit Women, Political Participation, United Nations|

New report: Dalit women working under “deplorable conditions” in Indian spinning mills, supplying global brands

“Based on our research, we conclude that the living and working conditions in the textile industry in Tamil Nadu are deplorable. In the worst case, this amounts to forced labour. Buying companies must take […]

May 28th, 2021|Business, Caste-based slavery, Dalit Women, India|