Archive | Country/region

Global Declaration on Dalit Rights released

The declaration entitled “Establishing Dalit Rights in the Contemporary World: A Call for Action” recognizes caste as a key challenge for democracy, human rights, justice, good governance and the rule of law. The declaration […]
April 27th, 2015|Diaspora|

UK: political parties take a stand on caste

The Liberal Democrats have included caste in their general election manifesto stating that, “we will: …Outlaw caste discrimination.” They have also included a more specific reference in their BAME manifesto with the statement, “A fair […]
April 23rd, 2015|European Union, UK|

Dalit leaders awarded for their work defending human rights

These women are a part of a growing number of Dalit women in India standing up for the rights of Dalits and fighting oppression with courage and unwavering determination. An interview with Manjula Pradeep was […]
April 23rd, 2015|Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, India|

Resolution condemning caste-based discrimination introduced in US congress

The resolution, H.Res.158, was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives, “Condemning Dalit untouchability, the practice of birth-descent discrimination against Dalit people, which is widely practiced in India, Nepal, the Asian diaspora, and other South […]
March 24th, 2015|Access to justice, Dalit Women, Diaspora|

US urged to actively support IDSN’s application for UN consultative status

OPEN LETTER   Mr. John F. Kerry Secretary of State of the United States of America U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington DC 20520   23 March 2015 Dear Mr. Secretary, We, the undersigned group of civil society organizations, are writing […]
March 24th, 2015|Diaspora, India, United Nations|

Leading Dalit activists arrested for protesting massive cuts in budgets meant for Dalits

Massive cuts to provisions for education of Dalits and Adivasis were central to the protest and public meeting, organised by the Campaign of Adivasis and Dalits for Rights on Education (CADRE 2201). “The budgeted expenditure […]
March 13th, 2015|Access to justice, India, Political Participation|

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International’s 2015 reports raise serious concern over caste discrimination

Failure of state authorities to protect the rights of Dalits In the India chapter of the Amnesty International 2014-15 report it is noted that “corruption, caste-based discrimination and caste violence remained pervasive,” and that, “state […]

India’s blocking of IDSN’s UN consultative status continues

The blocking of IDSN reflects a frightening trend in India for obstructing the work of civil society organisations and human rights defenders, particularly when it comes to Dalit and minority rights. Dalit rights activists across […]
February 20th, 2015|Access to justice, India, Political Participation, United Nations|

World Bank President and UN Secretary-General: Ending India’s caste-based exclusion is key to shared prosperity

Speaking at the Indian Council of World Affairs UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stressed the need for inclusive growth for shared prosperity saying that, “millions of Dalits, Tribals and others still face discrimination, especially the women and girls.” On a visit to Gujarat the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, similarly cautioned that while India was an accelerating economy, “Indian society has an enduring exclusion that is based, among other things, on caste identities. This bias can impede shared prosperity, serving as a basis for discrimination in many spheres, including in employment and other markets, as well as in public services.”

January 13th, 2015|India, United Nations|

Dalit women fight for their rights with marches and mass events in Nepal and India

Dalit women from Nepal, India and Bangladesh joined hands to assert their rights at a rally in Kathmandu, at the fringes of the people’s SAARC meeting. Hundreds of Dalit women from across Nepal gathered at the FEDO National Dalit Women conference, to put Dalit women’s rights on the agenda and In India several long marches and mass gatherings of Dalit women took place throughout November and December.

December 19th, 2014|Bangladesh, Dalit Women, India, Nepal|