IDSN issued recommendations to States, contributed to statements and observed and noted caste-relevant issues presented at the UN Human Rights Council 47^th Session held in Geneva.

IDSN International Associate, The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) facilitated the oral statement “Dalit women in India and the socioeconomic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic” at the 47th session of the Human Rights Council. The statement was delivered during the Annual Discussion on Women’s Rights (recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic), by Manjula Pradeep, an Indian human rights activist and lawyer from the National Council of Women Leaders (India).

“Dalit women in India face a triple burden of caste, class and gender… According to the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (2015-16), even within their homes Dalit women have little power: 60% of Dalit women have no say in how money is spent, 46% do not have individual bank accounts, 46% cannot go alone to the market, 49% cannot visit a health facility on their own and 35.7% have experienced some form of physical violence after age 15 inside their homes,” Ms. Pradeep stated.

IDSN also monitored the adoption of the UPR of Nepal, which counted on over 10 recommendations on caste of States from diverse parts of the world. IDSN counted on the partnership of the Nepalese Dalit NGO Federation (DNF) throughout the relevant process.

IDSN welcomes the appointment of Ms. Reem Alsalem (Jordan) as the new Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes and consequences, and looks forward to continuing a constructive interaction with this special procedure mandate.