Archive | Key Issues

UN workshop sheds light on barriers to justice for Dalits in South Asia

In the workshop titled “Mapping out Access to Justice for Persons from Descent-Based Communities,” human rights defenders, researchers, legal experts and civil society representatives gathered to discuss some of the pressing issues faced by […]

UN CERD Review critically examines Pakistan’s efforts to combat caste discrimination

On 8th August 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) conducted a thorough review of Pakistan’s progress in addressing racial discrimination, livecast on UN Web TV. Ahead of the review, […]

One word can make a world of difference in the just adopted EU corporate due diligence legislation

One small word , in the new EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), has the potential to make a giant leap of difference to millions of workers suffering human rights abuses in global supply […]

Webinar by ETI Norway addresses caste discrimination in global supply chains 

On 13 April IDSN Executive Director, Meena Varma, spoke at a webinar organised by Ethical Trade Norway. The webinar brought together stakeholders, including Norwegian companies sourcing in South Asia, to share insights and strategies […]
May 14th, 2024|Business, Solidarity Networks|

Review of the film Origin by IDSN Ambassador Aidan McQuade

IDSN Director, Meena Varma and IDSN Ambassador, Aidan McQuade were invited to a press screening of Film Director, Ava DuVernay’s new film Origin, a film inspired by Isabel Wilkerson’s groundbreaking book – Caste: The […]
March 7th, 2024|Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, India, Violence and atrocities|

IDSN welcomes Renu Sijapati as the first Dalit woman from Nepal to be chair of the IDSN Board

IDSN is delighted to announce the appointment of  Ms Renu Sijapati as the first Dalit woman from Nepal to be elected chair of the IDSN board following approval of the board at IDSN’s General […]
March 4th, 2024|Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, Nepal|

EU-India report calls for an EU strategy on addressing caste discrimination

IDSN welcomes The European Parliament adoption of a comprehensive report on EU-India relations on 17 January. This report, while broadly focusing on various aspects of the EU-India relationship excluding trade, contains critical insights and […]
January 22nd, 2024|Access to justice, Business, Dalit Women, European Union, India, Violence and atrocities|

Dalit voices resonate in Brussels: IDSN takes part in the EU NGO Forum 2023

Dalit activists forming part of the IDSN delegation made their presence felt at the 25th EU-NGO Forum on Human Rights in Brussels, Belgium held from 4-6 December, 2023. Sunil Kumar Pariyar from Nepal and […]

Advocating for equality: IDSN delegation addresses challenges faced by Dalits at key UN Forums

An IDSN delegation of Dalit human rights defenders participated in the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights held on 27-29 November as well as the UN Forum on Minority Issues, held at the […]

Youth at the forefront: Kathmandu events boosts advocacy to end caste/descent-based discrimination

Marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a series of events focusing on combatting descent-based discrimination, through the prism of access to justice and the role of youth in […]