Archive | Programme

UN Minority Forum: Dalit activists call for action on caste-based violence, intersectional discrimination, shrinking civic space and labour rights

At the Eighteenth session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues in 2025, IDSN delegates highlighted the urgent need to address caste discrimination, violence and exclusion across South Asia. Dalit delegates from South Asia […]

UN Advocacy Update: June–November 2025

Over the past months, IDSN has been actively engaging across the UN Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and with several Special Rapporteurs to ensure that addressing caste discrimination remain firmly on the international […]

IDSN delegation visits Brussels to advocate for EU action on caste discrimination

IDSN coordinated a weeklong advocacy visit to Brussels in June, bringing together six representatives from marginalized caste groups across South Asia. Delegates included: Dharsika Sivapragasam (Human Development Organization – Sri Lanka), Swapon Das (DALIT Khulna – Bangladesh), Sushil BK (Dalit […]

UN report on intersectionality calls for action on caste and gender justice

A groundbreaking new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism, Ashwini KP, has issued a powerful call to action, identifying caste and gender among the core drivers of intersectional oppression, particularly in South Asia. […]
July 7th, 2025|Dalit Women, United Nations|

Dalit leader urges action to address the situation of Dalit women at UN CEDAW Review of Nepal

On 3 February 2025, Durga Sob, founder of the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO) and a leading advocate for Dalit women’s rights, delivered a statement in connection with the 90th Session of the UN Convention on […]

IDSN delegation participates in EU human rights event

On December 9, Swapon Das, of DALIT Khulna, Bangladesh and Rini Elizabath Babu, took part in the EU event in Brussels “A Spotlight on Human Rights Defenders: Enhancing the Common Agenda for Protection”. IDSN delegates spoke […]
December 19th, 2024|Bangladesh, European Union, Human Rights Defenders, India|

IDSN delegation highlights caste related violations in global supply chains at the UN BHR Forum

An IDSN delegation actively participated in the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights from 25-27 November, drawing attention to caste-based human rights violations in global supply chains, affecting Dalit workers in South Asia. […]
December 13th, 2024|Business, India, Nepal, United Nations|

UN Minority Forum: Dalit activists call for action on caste-hate speech, political inclusion and intersectional discrimination

At the 2024 UN Forum on Minority Issues, IDSN delegates called for action on caste-based discrimination and exclusion. Sundar Bahadur Sheni from Nepal emphasised the need for Dalit inclusion in political and public spaces, […]
December 13th, 2024|Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, United Nations|

Dalit leader trains EU diplomats on caste-based discrimination

Abirami Jotheeswaran, General Secretary of All India Dalit Women Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM-NCDHR), delivered a compelling presentation to 20 European Union diplomats stationed in Asia and the Pacific, highlighting caste discrimination and its intersections with […]
December 11th, 2024|Access to justice, Dalit Women, European Union, Human Rights Defenders, India|

UN committee raises concern over persisting intersectional discrimination against Buraku women in Japan

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) raised concern over persisting discrimination and stereotypes against Buraku women at the 17 October review of Japan. The Committee’s Concluding Observations specifically identify, […]
November 22nd, 2024|Dalit Women, Japan, United Nations|