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Dalit solidarity events at the DRC

SIDE EVENTS (at the UN premises)

  • Press conference: “Caste Discrimination and the Durban Review Conference - breaking the silence at the UN”. Tuesday 21 April, 9.30 AM in the UN press room, Palais des Nations, salle de presse 2, United Nations Premises - Geneva. Co-sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation, Human Rights Watch, IMADR, FORUM-ASIA and Pax Romana.
  • NGO side event: “Journey from Durban to Geneva: The Lost Issues of Asia”. April 21, 11h-13h in Room XXVII. The side event, which was co-organized by FORUM-ASIA and Dignity International, gave articulation to voices from Asia on the various issues that afflict the communities because of racism and racial discrimination. The side event brought Asian lost issues to the forefront and allowed different communities to interact with each other within the context of the DDPA and the present Durban Review Conference. Nimalka Fernando (IMADR), Vijay Parmar (NCDHR), Kamala Bishwakarma (FEDO) and Bernice A. See (FORUM-ASIA) were panelists.
  • NGO side event: “Social Exclusion in South Asia: Challenges and Responses”. 21 April, 3-6 pm, room XXVII. This side event was organised by NCDHR along with Pax Romana, Human Development Organisation - Sri Lanka, Feminist Dalit Organisation - Nepal and others. Ms. Gay MacDougall, Independent Expert on Minority Issues, served as the Chair. In addition Mr. Doudou Diène, former Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, accepted the invitation as a key expert on the issue of Social Exclusion. The proposed side event was a panel debate between the UN Experts and Dalit representatives from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The Chairperson of the National Dalit Commission, Mr. Ramlal Bishwakarma, also spoke. The theme focused on those marginalized by the impact of globalization, in particular minority communities, who face various forms of inequalities, discrimination, and social exclusion.
  • NGO side event: “Communities Empowered to Resist Discrimination and Exclusion”. 22 April between 11 am – 1 pm, room XXVII. The purpose of this event, organised by IMADR, was to share experiences of communities affected by racial discrimination and social exclusion; to highlight available remedies at the local level; and to review and initiate a dialogue related to the effective implementation of the DDPA. The  keynote speakers were Ms. Yakin Ertürk, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, and Mr. Githu Muigai, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism. Nimalka Fernando served as a moderator and speakers included Fatima Burnad from IMADR.
  • OHCHR side event: “Combating racism through human rights education: examples of National Practice”. 22 April, 4-6 pm. This event was organised by the OHCHR on behalf of the UN Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Human Rights Education in the School System and the Council of Europe.  Mr. Henri Tiphagne from People’s Watch addressed the side event along with Mr. Bethusamy Ganesaperumal, a Dalit student from a special school for SC/ST students run by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

CIVIL SOCIETY EVENTS (outside the UN)

  • Public Conference: “Caste Based Discrimination and Role of International Community”. 23 April, 1830 till 2030hrs at Maison des Association, Plain Palais. This public conference was organised and planned by Pax Romana, COTMEC, IDSN, NCDHR and ADRM. Mr. Doudou Diène served as a resource person, and Dalit groups from South Asia acted as speakers. This event has been confirmed.
  • Civil Society Forum (CSF) Demonstration: The public march of Dalits, which began at 1.30 pm, merged with the larger demonstration of the Civil Society Forum. The CSF march began on 18 April at 3 p.m. Dalit groups wore Jackets, Headbands, and Banners for Dalit visibility.
  • CSF Working Group on Discrimination based on Work and Descent. 19April, 10-14 hrs. Maison des Association, Plain Palais. Approximately 40 representatives from affected communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Japan met together with international solidarity organisations to formulate a set of demands in a declaration of the working group.