Archive | Key Issues

Dalit women defenders featured by UN Women on Women’s Day (Video)

Asha Kowtal, General Secretary of the Dalit Women’s Movement AIDMAM-NCDHR, an IDSN member talks about the Dalit Women Fight movement in this UN Women & Google collaboration 5 minute video. “We are not silent. You […]

Amnesty India raise concern over “disturbing number of hate crimes” targeting Dalits and Muslims in India

A disturbing number of alleged hate crimes – including assault, rape and murder – were reported in 2018 against people from marginalized groups, especially Dalits and Muslims, said Amnesty India, as it released data […]
March 5th, 2019|Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, India, Violence and atrocities|

Ground Down by Growth: Oppression, Discrimination and Exploitation of Adivasis and Dalits in 21st century India (Policy Brief)

This Policy Brief from the London School of Economics reports on oppression and discrimination against Dalits and Adivasis perpetuating labour exploitation and land alienation, entrenching poverty and inequality in India. This brief is based […]
March 4th, 2019|Business, Caste-based slavery, India|

Activists: Government funds India’s most marginalised are not reaching them

The Government have announced a rise in budgets allocated for the welfare of Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes) in India, however human rights activists are saying that the rise is irrelevant as […]

Dignity March to end Sexual Violence in India – culminates in New Delhi

The aims of the march are to end stigmatization; to demand that state, non-state and social actors will publicly voice their support for the survivors; and to create a national survivor network to ensure […]

Human Rights Watch: Vigilante ‘Cow Protection’ Groups Attack Minorities in India

The Indian government should prevent and prosecute mob violence by vigilante groups targeting minorities in the name of so-called cow protection, Human Rights Watch said in a report released in March. The 104-page report, “Violent Cow […]
February 19th, 2019|Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, India, Violence and atrocities|

Report finds entrenched caste discrimination in India’s criminal justice system

“Criminal Justice in the Shadow of Caste” is a pioneering report looking at the administration of criminal justice in India through a caste lens. The findings reveal discrimination at all levels, including within prisons. […]
January 18th, 2019|Access to justice, India|

New IDSN strategy presented at the General Assembly 2018

Members and associates shared the latest updates from their respective countries and future plans were discussed. A new IDSN 5-year strategy was also adopted, which will be finalised and published in the beginning of […]

We have a dream

In 1948, the year that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed, thousands of Dalits gathered outside a temple in India, from which they had been barred entry because of their caste. A […]
December 10th, 2018|Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, South Asia, United Nations|

UN Special Rapporteur asks Nepal to act on violence against Dalit women

The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Dubravka Šimonović made a preliminary assessment on violence against women in Nepal, after her official visit to the country, which took place from the 19 to […]
December 3rd, 2018|Dalit Women, Nepal, United Nations, Violence and atrocities|