A delegation from the NGO had visited Nepal in mid-May for an on-ground assessment. Menon told HuffPost India that his team met with representatives of the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO) Nepal, which works for empowerment of Dalit women, who told them that Dalits' rights groups and other marginalised communities have not been included in coordination of aid efforts. This has resulted in disproportionate distribution of relief, disadvantaging such communities, said Menon.
Discrimination based on gender and caste is hindering the distribution of aid to those most in need after Nepal's devastating April earthquake, say activist groups.
By Lorah Moftah @loramoftah , l.moftah@ibtimes.com
Report of Initial Findings from Immediate Needs Assessment and Monitoring Responses towards Affected Dalit Communities in Nepal Earthquake 2015
The Annual Action Plan 2015 for the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) has integrated the rights of persons affected by caste based discrimination as a cross-cutting concern. It makes specific mention of persons affected by caste discrimination in action documents on support to civil society, in its actions to support protection and promotion of human rights, human rights defenders, universities for human rights and democracy postgraduate education and in supporting key international actors – the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
As aid agencies and NGOs fight to deliver aid and help victims of the devastating earthquake in Nepal, IDSN wish to draw attention to the importance of considering caste discrimination in relation to aid delivery in Nepal.
The convention was organised by National Dalit Watch in collaboration with Sphere India, Cordaid and Oxfam. Participants heard that there is a shocking and consistent pattern of discrimination and exclusion in all interventions pertaining to disaster response, mitigation and risk reduction.
1.2 million people and five million livestock in district Tharparkar are once again in the grip of a severe drought and efforts to prevent future human catastrophies must be stepped up.
The report includes key references to caste-based discrimination in the chapters on India, Nepal and Pakistan. References on caste-discrimination in humanitarian aid, caste-based violence, Dalit women, Dalit human rights defenders and Dalit religious minorities are included.
Authorities culpable over failure to provide Tharparkar region with adequate healthcare and infrastructure, claim NGOs. By Zofeen Ebrahim
Over 100 children have died in this last drought and the Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network have issued a press release calling for action to address the cause of these humanitarian catastrophes in Thar and find sustainable solutions to protect Dalits in future.
References to Caste-Based Discrimination in reports and statements presented at the 25th session of the Human Rights Council, March 2014
Discrimination faced by lower-caste communities has resulted in many receiving less aid when a natural calamity strikes. By Nita Bhalla
The manual produced by National Dalit Watch is a pioneering tool to help those delivering aid in post disaster situations counter caste-based discrimination in aid delivery efforts.
Key humanitarian actors including UNDP, ECHO, the Asian Disaster Reduction & Response Network, USAID and DFID gathered in New Delhi for the launch of the report “Equality in Aid – Addressing Caste Discrimination in Humanitarian Response” and the “Inclusive Vulnerability Mapping & Monitoring of Post Disaster Response” manual. Reuters published an article on the report and the report is also referenced in the January report of the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues.