Archive | Key Issues

Rights defenders: legislation meant to stop caste atrocities is failing

Dalit and Adivasi Civil Society Organisations, Human Rights Defenders from across India met in New Delhi to discuss the status of implementation of India’s legislation to prevent atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis. There was […]
August 31st, 2017|Access to justice, India|

UK caste consultation extended after pressure from human rights defenders

The UK’s Indian Diaspora community are going head to head as the Government’s consultation on caste discrimination legislation is extended. In several media reports groups that are pro and anti the introduction of legislation […]
August 23rd, 2017|Access to justice, Diaspora, UK|

Rights defenders: 27 manual scavengers die in one month – Government must act now

The call comes following the death of 27 manual scavengers in India within the span of one month, outlined in a press release by rights NGO Safai Karmchari Andolan (SKA). In response, the New […]
August 21st, 2017|Access to justice, India, Manual Scavenging|

India cuts off funding to IDSN member for reporting to UN Experts

IDSN member People’s Watch is fighting a legal battle in the Indian courts to regain their foreign funding license, first revoked by the Indian Government in 2012. The organisation, a program unit  of the […]
August 15th, 2017|Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, India, United Nations|

Dalit women in Nepal enter local government in record numbers

When a record number of Dalit women now take their seat in local Government across the country it is indeed a dream come true. IDSN members in Nepal have been working for decades to […]
August 15th, 2017|Dalit Women, Nepal, Political Participation|

SDGs in action: Dalit women in Nepal

In connection with their participation at the  High Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals in New York, IDSN member in Nepal, FEDO, has produced a valuable briefing paper on the Sustainable Development Goals […]
July 30th, 2017|Access to justice, Dalit Women, Nepal, Political Participation, United Nations|

UN Side-event: Blocking of civil society access to the UN must end now

“It is vital that the Committee takes timely decisions on deferred applications and ensure that it carries out its work in an efficient, effective and transparent manner.” Mr. François Delattre, Permanente Representative of France […]
June 22nd, 2017|Human Rights Defenders, Political Participation, United Nations|

Call to action: Outlaw caste discrimination in the UK

Caste discrimination occurs in diaspora communities from caste affected countries living in the UK, and is currently not adequately addressed. Rights campaigners have therefore been working for years to ensure that the Government take action […]
June 12th, 2017|Access to justice, UK|

UN Members States: India must do more to uphold the rights of Dalits

Several states addressed the need to introduce new policies and implement existing ones to prevent violence and attacks against Dalits, as well as ensuring justice for victims of such crimes. Others addressed the need […]
May 24th, 2017|Access to justice, India, United Nations|

India urged to address caste discrimination in new Disaster Risk Reduction plan

It is a well-documented fact that in disaster situations Dalits are often discriminated against when it comes to relief work as well as rebuilding homes, livelihoods and offering compensation for assets lost. It has […]
May 23rd, 2017|Humanitarian Aid, India|