EU briefing on human rights situation for Dalits in Pakistan

Provincial Consultation: Health, Safety, and Job Security of Sanitation Workers in Sindh

The Sindh Human Rights Commission organised a one-day consultation with key stakeholders at Hotel Avari Towers, Karachi, on August 18, 2022. The purpose of the consultation was to identify the gaps in the legislation covering labour rights of sanitation workers and build a consensus to gear efforts toward driving legislative interventions for the inclusion of sanitation workers in the labour laws. The event was organised in technical partnership with The Knowledge Forum.

Speaking out against caste discrimination at the Women at Work Conference – International Dalit Solidarity Network

A unique event organised by the Norwegian Human Rights Fund brought together, activists, experts, trade unions and several international NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, IDSN and OSF.  In a session dedicated to addressing caste-based discrimination, the exploitation of Dalit women in work settings, was raised by speakers at the global Women at Work conference in Nepal, stressing the urgent need to address the situation.  

Caste discrimination raised at the UN Human Rights Council – International Dalit Solidarity Network

IDSN participated actively in the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council, highlighting the need to tackle caste discrimination through participation at key events, interactive dialogues and oral statements.

No education for the forcibly converted

How violation of the fundamental rights of a citizen dents our entire society is often ignored by the power structures in the country. This is especially so when it translates into marginalization in education of children belonging to persecuted communities that endure gross discrimination and systemic exploitation.

The mystifying rise of suicide in Pakistan’s Thar Desert | Mental Health | Al Jazeera

Murder, rape and abuse in Asia’s factories: the true price of fast fashion | Garment workers | The Guardian

Jeyasre Kathiravel’s death exposed the epidemic of violence facing workers making clothes for the UK high street. Will a groundbreaking agreement improve their lot?

The situation regarding Dalits and modern forms of slavery

Despite being prohibited in many countries, slavery is widespread in South Asia. Forced and bonded labour, resulting in a loss of control over labour conditions and terms of work, is often interlinked with the caste system and related types of customary feudal agricultural relationships.

Indigenous Peoples and the right to freedom of religion or belief

GA report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief – UNGA77

EU meeting with Ahmed Shaheed, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief – International Dalit Solidarity Network

In June, IDSN and a group of other civil society organisations met with Ahmed Shaheed, the current Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, in Brussels.

Universal periodic Review Pakistan 2023 4th cycle

Joint stakeholder submission by PDSN, CLJ PHF, RADHA, Hari Welfare Association, PDO, AF, PILER and IDSN.

Leave no-one behind: Addressing business-related human rights issues and exclusion of communities on the basis of caste and descent – International Dalit Solidarity Network

IDSN and the UN OHCHR Minority section brought together an experts’ round table discussion to mark the 30th Anniversary of the UN Minority mandate.

South Asia State of Minorities Report 2021 – Hate Speech against Minorities – Minority Rights Group

In most of the countries of South Asia, hate speech is increasingly used by majority groups against minorities on the basis of religion, ethnicity or linguistic difference. Some of the groups under attack, in turn, are found to be victimising others at the same time. The common denominator driving hate speech in the region currently are the ubiquitous online platforms, primarily social media.

Call for inputs to report on contemporary forms of slavery as affecting persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minority communities

Survey by the SR on contemporary forms of slavery

Call for submission for two reports on the issue of child, early and forced marriage OHCHR February 2022

In Pakistan, forced marriages and forced conversions of women and girls affect Hindu and Christian minorities disproportionately. There are frequent reports that persons belonging to these minorities are kidnapped and subjugated to physical and emotional abuse involving threats of violence.

IDSN 2022 submission to the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Slavery

IDSN submission to the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Slavery for his study about slavery in the informal sector, to be presented at the 77th session of the UNGA.

Global forum addresses the caste and sanitation work nexus (IDSN News)

The links between caste and hazardous forms of sanitation work were highlighted by speakers at the Sanitation Workers Forum 2021 from 29 November – 2 December. Participants at the forum urged that immediate steps are taken to ensure the safety and dignity of millions of sanitation workers worldwide – and ensure social protections.

Dalit rights defenders speak out on caste at the EU-NGO Forum (IDSN)

Economic, social and labour rights were the thematic headlines of this year’s EU-NGO Human Rights Forum, where three Dalit human rights defenders were featured as panellists, facilitated by IDSN. Caste-related barriers to healthcare in Pakistan, post-covid economic and social recovery for Dalit workers in South Asia and building corporate accountability to respect human rights were among the key topics covered by the panellists.

Hindu family ‘tortured’ for getting water from mosque in Rahim Yar Khan – Pakistan – DAWN.COM

Obtaining water from a mosque tap landed a farm workers family from the Hindu community in trouble as some village landlords allegedly tortured and held them hostage for “violating the sanctity” of the place.

A new chapter: Interview with Sandra Petersen, outgoing Executive Director – The Norwegian Human Rights Fund

After 11 years as the NHRF’s Executive Director Sandra Petersen is moving on to a new chapter and role in the organisation.