UNOHCHR Guidance Tool on Descent-Based Discrimination: Key Challenges and Strategic Approaches to Combat Caste-Based and Analogous Forms of Discrimination. Published by the United Nations Network in Racial Discrimination.
The EU Chapter of the 2015 IDSN Annual Report detailing developments at the EU level in 2015 in the fight against caste discrimination.
The UN and EU Chapters of the 2016 IDSN Annual Report detailing developments at the UN and EU level on the fight against caste discrimination for the year 2016.
The UN Chapter of the 2015 IDSN Annual Report detailing developments at the UN level on the fight against caste discrimination for the year 2015.
13 states mentioned caste and/ or Dalits, resulting in 13 targeted recommendations 9 targeted recommendation (on caste and Dalits) out of 13 were accepted.
In response to the 250 recommendations, which India received during its third review of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the Human Rights Council on 4 May 2017, the Government of India (GoI) accepted nine recommendations related to caste-based discrimination.i The accepted recommendations, were made by a cross-regional group of states: USA, Peru, Argentina, France, Germany, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, and two from the Holy See (see the recommendations in the document).
In the context of the reports being presented at the 36th UN Human Rights Council session (11– 29 September 2017), IDSN is urging states to pay particular attention to caste-based discrimination being included on a par with other forms of discrimination. Especially in thematic HRC resolutions on rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, contemporary forms of slavery as well as discussions of UPR reports on India and the UK. Read the full IDSN HRC36 recommendations here
Factsheet for the UPR of Pakistan (28th session, 13 November 2017)
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pakistan 2017 - Discrimination against Dalits in Pakistan
This paper, compiled by the Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) of Nepal in consultation with Dalit women’s groups, seeks to inform the international community on the occasion of the High Level Political Forum on the SDGs 2017. It lays out the situation for Dalit women in Nepal, including the protections, the achievements and the challenges, and makes recommendations to governments and donors on the implementation of the gender provisions of the SDGs, to ensure that Dalit women’s rights are achieved and that no-one is left behind.
In connection with their participation at the High Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals in New York, IDSN member in Nepal, FEDO, has produced a valuable briefing paper on the Sustainable Development Goals and how they are directly related to the situation of Dalits, and in particular of Dalit women. The paper offers key insight into the relevance of the SDGs and their implication at the national and local level.
Activists and Members of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) review of Pakistan on 12-13 June 2017, drew attention to the serious human rights violations faced by Dalits in Pakistan. Nonetheless, the Government of Pakistan neglected to adequately acknowledge the issues and failed to outline action to combat it.
Mr. Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director of People's Watch addressing the #NGOCommittee On 'Improving Working Methods, Encouraging Civil Society Engagement' at UN Headquarters in New York on 19.06.2017
In a UN side-event in New York several states and civil society representatives spoke about how the NGO committee, which grants UN ECOSOC accreditation, is effectively blocking legitimate civil society participation at the United Nations. Several shocking examples of harassment by the NGO Committee were shared including IDSN’s 9-year deferral, due to perpetual questioning from one state on the Committee. Participants at the event outlined courses of action that could be taken to reform the Committee and open the UN to civil society participation.
Joint submission for the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights review of Pakistan
IDSN and the Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN) have submitted an alternative report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ahead of the June 2017 review of Pakistan. The report details serious human rights issues resulting from caste-based discrimination in Pakistan.
Despite ample evidence that caste-discrimination in UK is a human rights issue, and a submission made by the Dalit Solidarity Network-UK and IDSN detailing the problem, not a single state mentioned caste discrimination at the UN UPR review of the UK. Human rights campaigners are disappointed at the negligence of the international community when it comes to addressing caste in the UK context. DSN-UK have summarised the review on their website.
At the UN review of the human rights situation in India, more than a dozen UN Member States recommended actions to ensure the rights of Dalits. The recommendations come following reports and statements from civil society, including Dalit rights organisations, documenting the lack of enforcement and protection of the human rights of Dalits in India.
Joint alternative report on caste-based discrimination in the UK – ALTERNATIVE REPORT for the 3rd review cycle under the Universal Period Review of the United Kingdom
Key facts and recommendations on caste-based discrimination for the UK UPR 2017 – prepared by the Dalit Solidarity Network UK (DSN-UK)