Archive | Key Issues

Young Dalit leaders speak out at UN Business and Human Rights Forum

An IDSN delegation of inspiring young Dalit rights leaders participated in the the 11th session of the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva. The Forum was created by the Working Group on […]

January 19th, 2023|Business, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, South Asia, United Nations|

Dalit woman appointed UN Special Rapporteur on Racism

IDSN welcomes the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Dr. Ashwini K.P., to the post.  Dr. K.P. brings with her valuable knowledge and insight on […]

October 6th, 2022|Dalit Women, United Nations|

Dalit rights raised at the pre-session for the UN rights review of India

Dalit activists gathered in Geneva to take part in the pre-session for the Universal Periodic Review of India – scheduled for November 2022. Rahul Singh, the Director of the National Dalit Movement for Justice-NCDHR, […]

September 27th, 2022|Dalit Women, India, United Nations|

Speaking out against caste discrimination at the Women at Work Conference

A unique event organised by the Norwegian Human Rights Fund brought together, activists, experts, trade unions and several international NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, IDSN and OSF.  In a session dedicated to addressing caste-based […]

The UN Special Rapporteur on Slavery highlights the deep-rooted and intersecting forms of discrimination as main causes of contemporary forms of slavery affecting minorities

At the 51st Regular Session of the Human Rights Council, Mr Tomoya Obokata, the Special Rapporteur on Slavery, will present his report focusing on the Contemporary forms of slavery affecting persons belonging to ethnic, […]

OECD Forum: the first session on caste-based discrimination

News courtesy of IDSN International Associate – Arisa

This year, the ‘OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector’ took place from the 22nd till the 24th of February. This forum is an […]

March 21st, 2022|Business, India, South Asia|

New report and symposium charts pathways towards access to justice for Dalit defenders in Pakistan

The symposium “Challenges to effective legal remedies for Dalit and Minorities’ defenders in Pakistan and proposed solution to those challenges” was organised in Pakistan to discuss and launch the Pakistan report of the Dalit […]

December 30th, 2021|Access to justice, Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, Pakistan|

Dalit rights defenders speak out on caste at the EU-NGO Forum

Economic, social and labour rights were the thematic headlines of this year’s EU-NGO Human Rights Forum, where three Dalit human rights defenders were featured as panellists, facilitated by IDSN. Caste-related barriers to healthcare in […]

December 15th, 2021|Business, European Union, Health, Human Rights Defenders, India, Pakistan, Poverty, South Asia|

Nepal: UN Poverty Expert says caste discrimination is “the single most important factor” explaining why Dalits are disproportionately affected by poverty

“Though banned, caste-based and ethnicity-based discrimination remain a reality in social life, and it is a major factor explaining the perpetuation of poverty,” De Schutter commented in the press release issued.

“Land issues remain unresolved, […]

December 9th, 2021|Nepal, Poverty, United Nations|

Global forum addresses the caste and sanitation work nexus

The links between caste and hazardous forms of sanitation work were highlighted by speakers at the Sanitation Workers Forum 2021 from 29 November – 2 December. Participants at the forum urged that immediate steps […]

December 8th, 2021|Human Rights Defenders, India, Pakistan, Water and Sanitation|