Caste discrimination and EU political and human rights dialogue

EU maintains a political dialogue with a number of caste-affected countries and pursues human right dialogues at various levels.  IDSN seeks to influence the EU to take caste discrimination into the policy and human rights dialogues with affected countries in a systematic and transparent manner. Where such a dialogue does not exist, the EU should find ways to establish dialogues with third countries on the topic of caste-based discrimination, such as for example in the EU-India summit, ministerial and expert meetings.

IDSN recommends that the EU develops a mechanism and procedure for drawing on relevant information and acting on recommendations of national and international institutions, such as National Human Rights Institutions, research institutions and UN Treaty Bodies, including country examinations and concluding observations. The UN Treaty bodies have a substantial body of information and recommendations on caste discrimination and related human rights issues.

The European Council can prepare for a thematic discussion on caste discrimination, e.g. at a COHOM or COASI session, in order to develop a common position and move towards an action plan with measures to counter caste discrimination.

The European Parliament has addressed caste-based discrimination in some of its activities, including in the Development Committee; and with the adoption of a resolution on the Human Rights situation of Dalits in India.

> Read all our recommendations to the EU here