In October, IDSN contributed to a global Community of Practice session hosted by the UN Network on Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, bringing together UN staff from around the world working in contexts where caste and analogous forms of descent-based discrimination remain urgent but often overlooked.

The session, dedicated to strengthening UN-wide understanding and responses to caste discrimination, featured expert inputs from Chinsung Chung (CERD), Dr. Ashwini K.P. (UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism), Asang Wankhede (D.Phil (Law) candidate at the University of Oxford) and Meena Varma (Executive Director of IDSN).

IDSN’s presentation at the session highlighted the need for the UN’s existing ‘Guidance Tool on Descent-Based Discrimination: Key Challenges and Strategic Approaches to Combat Caste-Based and Analogous Forms of Discrimination’ to be streamlined and adapted for practical operational use across agencies, ensuring that UN staff have the tools they need to address caste discrimination effectively in their work.

In the discussion, a recent milestone in Australia was highlighted by Asang Wankhede, where the Australian Human Rights Commission has now opened its complaints mechanism to caste-oppressed communities, illustrating how institutional recognition can drive meaningful change.