IDSN welcomes the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Dr. Ashwini K.P., to the post.  Dr. K.P. brings with her valuable knowledge and insight on discrimination based on work and descent and the United Nations.

In 2014, Dr. K.P. was part of an IDSN delegation to the UN Human Rights Council, participating in the UN HRC26 side-event on caste-based violence against women. Her participation sparked her interest in working with UN mechanisms. IDSN is proud to have been a small part of the journey that has led Dr. K.P. to the post of UN Special Rapporteur.

 

In 2014, Ashwini K.P. took part in an IDSN delegation at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Photo by IDSN

Dr. K.P. has also previously worked as a researcher, as a Senior Campaigner in Business and Human Rights with Amnesty International India, as a guest faculty member of the Department of Political Science at Mount Carmel College as well as being a Lecturer of the Department of Political Science of St. Joseph’s College, all in India.

She has several publications on the issues of discrimination. She holds a Masters in Political Science from St. Joseph’s College and a Masters in Philosophy and a PhD in South Asian Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, in India.

The President of the UN Human Rights Council, that made the final selection for the mandate, noted her practical experience relating to the mandate, particularly in the Asian region, and her commitment to the issues related to the mandate.

Through our work with Dr. K.P. in the past, IDSN knows her as a brilliant, tenacious, methodical and thorough individual that is well suited to this position.

The proposed appointment of Dr. K.P. was announced by the President of the UN Human Rights Council on 4th October 2022.

We look forward to continuing our work with the mandate and Dr. K.P.