UPR SUBMISSIONS ON CASTE DISCRIMINATION

INDIA - 1st session - April 2008:

On 10 April 2008, the Government of India was reviewed by the Human Rights Council. During the interactive dialogue more than ten states expressed specific concern over the situation of Dalits in India, and asked specifically about the state's compliance with the concluding observations of CERD to India in 2007. A summary of the discussions from the interactive dialogue can be seen in the report of the working group on India published on 15 April 2008.

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and the International Movement against All Forms of Racism and Discrimination (IMADR) appealed to the Indian Government to move away from a state of denial of the scale and seriousness of caste-based discrimination. Instead they should seek constructive solutions with the assistance of the international community. Read the full press statement here

• Download the joint NGO submission by NCDHR, IDSN, IMADR and LWF including Annex 1 (List of references) and Annex 2 (Explanatory note on the situation of Dalits in India) for the first UPR session in April 2008.
• Download the India National Consultation for Preparation of Stakeholders Report, endorsed by over 200 NGOs and activists from India
• Download the UPR submission for India by the Asian Legal Resource Center

PAKISTAN, SRI LANKA and JAPAN - 2nd session - May 2008:

In the 2nd session in May 2008, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Japan were reviewed by the Human Rights Council. In the Pakistan review, many states expressed concern about discrimination against minorities and three states raised the issue of caste-based discrimination. In response to these questions, the delegation denied the existence of caste-based discrimination and said that there were no Dalits in Pakistan.

In the follow-up to the review there was however a shift in position of the Government of Pakistan towards the recognition of caste based discrimination in Pakistan. The head of delegation said that efforts are made to eliminate discrimination wherever it exists and to give maximum support to Scheduled Castes and that the Government encourages NGOs to highlight the issues of Scheduled Castes and seek redress for grievances.

In the Sri Lanka review, the delegation was asked about what the Government had done to combat caste-based discrimination. Unfortunately, the delegation did not respond to this question in the debate. In the review of Japan, many states were concerned about discrimination against minorities. However discrimination against the Buraku people, which is a form of discrimination based on work and descent, was not explicitly referred to in the debate.

Pakistan:

• Read about the outcome of the UPR of Pakistan in relation to caste discrimination
• UPR submission on caste-based discrimination in Pakistan submitted by Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP), Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), and IDSN
• Download the list of main recommendations and questions for the UPR review of Pakistan
  

Sri Lanka:

• Download the UPR submission on caste-based discrimination in Sri Lanka submitted by IDSN in association with the Human Development Organisation (HDO) and IMADR Asia Committee in Sri Lanka
  

BANGLADESH - 4th session - February 2009:

The review of the Government of Bangladesh will take place on 3 February 2009. IDSN has prepared a joint submission on caste-based discrimination in Bangladesh together with national Dalit platform members.

• Download the UPR submission on caste-based discrimination in Bangladesh prepared by IDSN in association with the Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM) and Nagorik Uddyog in Bangladesh
• Joint UPR report prepared by a coalition of 17 NGOs in Bangladesh. See para. 60-61 for a section on caste discrimination.
• List of Key Issues from the Human Rights Forum on the UPR Bangladesh
• UPR Recommendations prepared by Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM), IDSN and Nagorik Uddyog in Bangladesh
• UPR Report - Draft report from the UN working group on the UPR Bangladesh
• Press Relase about the UN review of Bangladesh Human Rights record at the UPR - 4 February 2009

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India_08_3.pdf Caste-based discrimination in India (1st session - April 2008)

UPR-India.pdf People's Forum for UPR in India, the India National Consultation for Preparation of Stakeholders Report, endorsed by over 200 NGOs and activists from India

UPR_India_ALRC.pdf The UPR submission for India by the Asian Legal Resource Center

UPR_Pakistan.pdf Caste-based discrimination in Pakistan (2nd session - May 2008)

UPR_Sri_lanka.pdf Caste-based discrimination in Sri Lanka (2nd session - May 2008)

UPR_Bangladesh_2009.pdf Caste-based discrimination in Bangladesh (4th session - February 2009)