EU high-representative calls the UN NGO Committee “hostile to civil society interests, particularly … caste discrimination.” (IDSN News)

2018 Letter to UN HC for Human Rights Michele Bachelet from IDSN

Cabinet clears Bill to restore the provisions of SC/ST Act (The Hindu)

‘Call Me Priya’: film sparks debate about India’s textile industry

India not free 71 years on, rising inequality, unemployment to blame  (National Herald)

Dalit women are brewing their own social revolution (Livemint)

‘Society Needs Us, But Only For Cleaning Others’ Dirt’ (The Wire)

India Should Recognise That Manual Scavenging Is Akin to Slavery (TheWire)

Sanitation workers: Deaths of five men cleaning sewer are a blot on India’s capital

Bringing justice close: an experiment in accessing justice with technology (Open Global Rights)

Why we need the term Dalit (Indian Express)

Won’t back off: New turn to India’s caste conflicts (Hindustan Times)

Only Rs 211 A Day for Cleaning Human Waste (The Wire)

The Wire speaks to rehabilitated manual scavengers as identified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and finds their condition and profession unchanged

#dalitwomenfight documentary – 11 mins

A short film produced by All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch to highlight the impunity of caste-based sexual violence and the barriers to justice that Dalit women face in India

Problems persist in South Indian textile industry – new report (ICN)

Social accountability initiatives fail to bring improvements for workers in the South Indian textile industry. New report from ICN finds that complaint mechanisms have not remedied labour rights violations affecting girls and young women.

India and Sustainable Development Goals through the perspective of Dalit Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction: A Situational Study (ADRF)

Coalition for Dalits to submit guidelines on discrimination in schools (The New Indian Express)

The National Dalit Movement for Justice (NDMJ) is formulating guidelines, for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India, on how to prevent caste-based violence in schools as part of its campaign of achieving zero discrimination.

Declaration for the Elimination of Descent-Based Discrimination – 2018 (IDSN)

Prior to the International Symposium on UN Guidance Tool on Descent-Based Discrimination in Tokyo. IMADR and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) held the International Consultation for the Elimination of Descent- Based Discrimination in Osaka on 9 April. The Consultation was attended by representatives from Dalit civil society in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, leaders of Buraku Liberation League (BLL), the former UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues and a representative from the OHCHR. As an outcome document of the consultation, Dalit and Buraku civil society organisations adopted the “Declaration for the Elimination of Descent-Based Discrimination”.

Australian Parliament passes motion on caste-based discrimination (IDSN)

The Australian Parliament has passed a landmark motion urging the Government to take action on fighting caste-based discrimination. The motion requests the government to consider interventions in inclusion and non-discrimination in humanitarian aid; inclusive recruitment practice and management practice in all business partners; and strengthening policy and human rights dialogues for the elimination of caste-based discrimination in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The motion also urges the Government to support projects combating caste-based discrimination through Australian International Development Programmes.

Vulnerability Mapping: Project to include those excluded in Kerala flood relief ops (The News Minute)

IDSN member National Dalit Watch-NCDHR has taken part in a vulnerability mapping initiative, identifying areas where marginalised communities in four districts of Kerala have been excluded from the rescue operations and relief activities following devastating flooding in the area. IDSN members in India are responding to the reports of discrimination with relief measures, fact-finding and supporting those affected by the flooding, to claim their rights.