Archive | Key Issues

Historic amendment to India’s caste atrocity legislation passed in the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament)

It is hoped that the amendments will be a stepping stone towards curbing rampant caste discrimination and violence in India that all too often goes unpunished. While Dalit organisations and networks are celebrating this […]
September 3rd, 2015|Access to justice, India|

Police action against Kathmandu protest organised by Dalit lawmakers and rights activists

During the rally, police allegedly used excessive force against protesters and Durga Sob, President of the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO) and a number of other Dalit activists and CA Members were injured. On August 5, […]
August 10th, 2015|Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, Nepal, Political Participation|

New report: Low caste children suffer in India’s cottonseed industry

The report also finds that workers are paid far below minimum wages and are often working to repay their parents debts. The children are made to work 8-12 hours a day. Most are school […]
August 3rd, 2015|Business, Caste-based slavery, Dalit Children, India|

Dalit and Adivasi women’s march for self-respect meets violence, injustice and police negligence

The march (Yatra) took place from the 1st of June to the 10th of June and passed through 11 districts in the state of Odisha. The march was organised by the national level Dalit […]
July 2nd, 2015|Access to justice, Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, India|

IDSN UN side-event calls for more action to combat caste and gender-based slavery

  Co-Sponsors of the event were Human Rights Watch (HRW), the International Movement against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), Minority Rights Group (MRG), Anti-Slavery International, Franciscans International (FI). A report from the event […]
July 1st, 2015|Caste-based slavery, Dalit Women, India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Asia, United Nations|

Invitation to UN HRC29 side-event on caste and gender-based forced and bonded Labour

The event will be held on June 18, 2015 from 17.00-18.30, Palais Des Nations, Geneva, Room XXV at the 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Please download the PDF invitation flyer for the event.
June 11th, 2015|Caste-based slavery, Dalit Women, South Asia, United Nations|

Urgent appeal to combat caste discrimination in Nepal earthquake relief efforts

Inequality in access to rescue and relief provisions for Dalit communities is documented in the Waiting for Justice in Response: Report of Initial Findings from Immediate Needs Assessment and Monitoring Responses towards Affected Dalit Communities […]
June 3rd, 2015|Humanitarian Aid, Nepal|

Report: Dalits short-changed in aid delivery in Nepal

The  Waiting for Justice in Response: Report of Initial Findings from Immediate Needs Assessment and Monitoring Responses towards Affected Dalit Communities in Nepal Earthquake 2015 explores equitable access to rescue and relief provisions for […]
May 29th, 2015|Humanitarian Aid, Nepal|

Experts: Law amendment will push Dalit children out of school and into child labour

Child labour experts are warning that the term ‘family enterprises’ is widely interpreted and a common euphemism for industries such as carpet-weaving, beedi-rolling, gem-polishing, lock-making and matchbox-making. Shamshad Khan, president of the Centre for Rural […]
May 7th, 2015|Caste-based slavery, Dalit Children|

IDSN urges agencies to counter caste discrimination in aid delivery after Nepal earthquake

In the past in disaster responses in caste-affected countries, such as the response to the 2004 Tsunami in India, Dalits have faced problems when trying to register for relief. They often receive poorer and […]
April 30th, 2015|European Union, Humanitarian Aid, Nepal|