Archive | Access to justice

Groundbreaking Report on Claiming Justice for Dalits in India

Told directly from victims, witnesses, community members, human rights defenders and public officials, the report analyzes over 400 atrocity cases, with 20 in-depth case studies covering atrocities such as murder, rape, mass attack, and land grabbing.

April 18th, 2014|Access to justice, India|

A landmark judgement in the fight to eradicate manual scavenging

The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that the continuance of manual scavenging in the country is in blatant violation of Article 17 of the Constitution of India by which, “untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden”. The court was emphatic about the duty cast on all states and union territories “to fully implement the law and to take action against the violators”.

March 31st, 2014|Access to justice, Caste-based slavery, Manual Scavenging|

Dalit women in India stage month-long march for justice

For a full month Dalit women have marched in India to fight the vicious cycle of caste and gender discrimination that severely restricts the lives of Dalit women and subjects them to violence, rape and violations of their basic human rights in almost every sphere. They are marching to empower other Dalit women to stand up for themselves and join in the fight and they are demanding justice.

March 19th, 2014|Access to justice, Dalit Women, India|

Dalits: Government must take immediate action to pass caste legislation

Dalits in India have united to issue an urgent appeal to the Indian Government to take immediate action on passing pending legislation amending the Prevention of Atrocities act, meant to stop atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis (tribals) in India. They are also asking the Government to approve a bill to ensure the proper allocation and distribution of budgets for Dalits and Adivasis.

January 29th, 2014|Access to justice, India, Political Participation|

Arrest of 15 Dalit and Adivasi activists protesting against the government’s broken promises

Dalit and Adivasi activists protested in front of the Indian Parliament Tuesday, to convey their anger that India’s ruling parties have broken their promise to table important budget bills, meant to benefit Dalits and Adivasis (SCP TSP Legislation) and amendments to the act meant to prevent atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis (the SC/ST PoA act).

December 19th, 2013|Access to justice, India, Political Participation|

New Manual Scavenging Legislation: New Hope and New Challenges

India is introducing new manual scavenging legislation meant to eradicate the humiliating practice of manual scavenging, which perseveres despite being outlawed for decades. Indian civil society are welcoming the initiative to introduce new legislation, but are flagging that the proposed draft legislation is missing critical necessary aspects that must be included before legislation is introduced on the 6th December.

December 4th, 2013|Access to justice, Caste-based slavery, India, Manual Scavenging|

Campaign to stop Government shortchanging Dalits

Dalits in India have had enough of clever Government tricks to divert money meant for Dalits – under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan – to other areas unrelated to them. They are demanding new legislation, to ensure that this practice, which has prevailed for years, is stopped and money is returned to the scheduled castes that were meant to benefit from them.

December 4th, 2013|Access to justice, India|

UN Human Rights Chief: Bring down the beast of caste discrimination

UN High Commissioner, Navi Pillay, delivers a powerful speech on the urgent need to wipe out the “insidious stain” of caste discrimination and urges the UK not to tarnish their excellent record on human rights, by delaying implementation of UK anti-caste discrimination legislation

November 8th, 2013|Access to justice, United Nations|

Acquittals in massacre case shock Dalits

Almost 16 years after the savage killings of 58 Dalits in a Bihar village, the survivors’ fight for justice has suffered a severe blow. On 9 October, the Patna High Court acquitted 26 men who were sentenced for the crime three years ago.

October 14th, 2013|Access to justice, Dalit Women, India|

Dalit women desperately seeking justice

The National Tribunal on Violence Against Dalit Women, organised by AIDMAM, heard over 45 testimonies of Dalit women who had been subjected to kidnapping, murder, physical assault, sexual violence and other crimes against them, and have yet to obtain justice.

October 2nd, 2013|Access to justice, Dalit Women, India|