Archive | Key Issues

UN Minority Forum: More political participation for Dalits

IDSN urges the UN Forum on Minority issues to consider ways to enhance political participation, especially for Dalit women.

November 2nd, 2009|Political Participation, United Nations|

Join the debate: Express your views!

The international debate on caste discrimination is also taking place on blogs and media websites. Now is the time to join the debate on caste discrimination as a human rights violation and the role of the international community.

September 30th, 2009|India, Key Issues|

Dalits are victims of modern slavery

Bonded labourers in South Asia are predominantly Dalits, also known as ‘untouchables’. The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery highlights this in her report about forced and bonded labour, which will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its 12th session in September.

September 3rd, 2009|Caste-based slavery|

Children speak up against manual scavenging

Dalit children in Gujarat will protest against being forced to clean toilets and septic tanks at the upcoming rally against manual scavenging, organized by Grassroots Dalit organization Navsarjan.

August 13th, 2009|Dalit Children, Manual Scavenging|

Supreme Court ruling brings India a step closer to ending manual scavenging

The campaign to end manual scavenging by the 2010 Commonwealth Games just got a push from a recent Supreme Court Decision, holding Government appointed District Collectors responsible for not eradicating the demeaning and hazardous practice.

July 15th, 2009|India, Manual Scavenging|

Stay updated with the IDSN June newsletter

Read the IDSN June newsletter here with all the latest news on caste-based discrimination from the IDSN network.

June 19th, 2009|Dalit Women, India, United Nations|

IDSN recommendations on caste discrimination and Dalit women to the Human Rights Council

When the Human Rights Council meet for the 11th time between 2-18 June, IDSN recommends that the issue of caste discrimination be addressed, in particular the human rights situation of Dalit women. Members of the Council are also urged to acknowledge the positive role played by the High Commissioner on Human Rights during her recent visits to two caste-affected countries, Nepal and India.

May 25th, 2009|Dalit Women, United Nations|

Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits to be held in Bangkok on 21-24 March

The conference, involving around 100 representatives of church-related organisation from all over the world and members of affected communities, presents an opportunity to share experiences and perspectives to help meet the challenge of securing justice for Dalits. The event also serves to underscore the magnitude of the problem, which affects 260 million people worldwide.

March 20th, 2009|Access to justice|

Dalits voicing their rights in Bangladesh

The first Dalit National Human Rights Conference and the Universal Periodic Review sheds light on Dalit issues in Bangladesh.

March 2nd, 2009|Access to justice, Bangladesh|

Nepal: Little democracy within political parties for Dalits – Constitutional Assembly members grilled by Dalit NGOs at seminar on Dalit rights

Approximately 50 members of Nepal’s Constitutional Assembly – the body charged with making a new constitution and restructuring the state – were gathered at a seminar on Dalit human rights in the constitution making […]
December 29th, 2008|Nepal, Political Participation|