UN Human Rights Council Regular Session 53 Activities

Since receiving our ECOSOC status in December of 2022, IDSN was finally able to participate in its own right in the 53rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council. IDSN highlighted the need to keep caste discrimination on the international agenda through recommendations, meeting with Permanent Missions, statements at Interactive Dialogues and a very successful

Caste and gender-based violence addressed at IDSN’s first UN side-event

Following IDSN’s ECOSOC accreditation last year, we were delighted to formally sponsor and host our first side event at the UN 53rd Human Rights Council. It took place on Wednesday 5 July 2023 and focused on ‘Addressing the intersection of caste and gender-based violence in South Asia’. The side-event was co-sponsored by International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), […]

UN HRC 53 SIDE-EVENT: Addressing the Intersections between Caste and Gender-Based Violence in South Asia

IDSN is hosting a side-event at the 53rd UN Human Rights Council meeting on 5 July 2023, from 11-12 CET in Room XXV at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. The event, entitled “Addressing the intersections between caste & gender-based violence in South Asia,” aims to shed light on the ongoing issues of caste-based sexual violence experienced by […]

Pakistan UPR review: caste-related recommendations

The outcome report on the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Pakistan has been published and will be presented during the 53rd session held from 19 June to 14 July 2023. The outcomes of the review have implications for all marginalised communities in Pakistan, including the Dalits, who form a significant portion […]

Progress in the fight to #EndCasteDiscrimination in the global South Asian diaspora

Over the past months the campaign to end caste discrimination in key South Asian diaspora communities has gathered momentum. Anti-caste groups and activists in the US, Canada, UK and Australia have carried out targeted advocacy and made significant progress towards the goal of ensuring protections and legal recourse for those experiencing caste discrimination in South Asian communities […]

Bangladesh: Gathering momentum for inclusive anti-discrimination legislation

In a significant step towards fostering equality and social justice, the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad (BDP) and Parittran recently organised a National Consultation Meeting on the Anti-Discrimination Bill-2022. Held in Dhaka, the event served as a platform for diverse stakeholders to provide feedback and recommendations on the proposed legislation. The meeting aimed to address the concerns and aspirations […]

UN UPR Review: UN member states call on India to address caste discrimination

During the 4th cycle of the UN Universal Periodic Review of India, the country received eight direct recommendations on caste, including topics such as racism, water, forced marriage and child labour.

On November 10, 2022 India was reviewed by 193 UN member states through the UPR, a peer review mechanism. Under this mechanism, […]

IDSN Annual Report 2022-23

The IDSN Annual Report 2022-23 has just been released and is ready for download. The report 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. The report can be downloaded here: idsn.org/ar2022-23.

The European Parliament calls for stepping up consultations with Dalit communities and the adoption of a policy addressing intersectional discrimination

The International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) welcomes the adoption of the European Parliament’s annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2022 and the European Union’s policy on the matter.

In addition to the calls by the European Parliament for the EU to adopt a  “policy on […]

Dalit voices heard at the UN Forum on Minority Issues

IDSN delegates from South Asia spoke out on the human rights issues faced by Dalits at the UN Forum on Minority Issues in December 2022. Speaking on the panel and from the floor, human rights defenders from India and Nepal shared their experience of discrimination and injustice and their thoughts on the way forward for their communities. […]