IDSN delegation participates in EU human rights event

On December 9, Swapon Das, of DALIT Khulna, Bangladesh and Rini Elizabath Babu, took part in the EU event in Brussels “A Spotlight on Human Rights Defenders: Enhancing the Common Agenda for Protection”. IDSN delegates spoke about caste discrimination […]

|Categories: Bangladesh, European Union, Human Rights Defenders, India|Tags: |

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IDSN delegation highlights caste related violations in global supply chains at the UN BHR Forum

An IDSN delegation actively participated in the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights from 25-27 November, drawing attention to caste-based human rights violations in global supply chains, affecting Dalit workers in South Asia. Delegates HariHaran Karrupusamy, from India’s Rights Education and Development Centre (READ) and Sundar Sheni, from Nepal’s Dalit Welfare Organisation (DWO), represented IDSN throughout […]

|Categories: Business, India, Nepal, United Nations|Tags: |

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UN Minority Forum: Dalit activists call for action on caste-hate speech, political inclusion and intersectional discrimination

At the 2024 UN Forum on Minority Issues, IDSN delegates called for action on caste-based discrimination and exclusion. Sundar Bahadur Sheni from Nepal emphasised the need for Dalit inclusion in political and public spaces, highlighting the barriers faced by Dalit women. Hariharan Karuppusamy from India addressed the pervasive problem of caste-based hate speech on social media, calling […]

|Categories: Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, United Nations|Tags: |

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Dalit leader trains EU diplomats on caste-based discrimination

Abirami Jotheeswaran, General Secretary of All India Dalit Women Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM-NCDHR), delivered a compelling presentation to 20 European Union diplomats stationed in Asia and the Pacific, highlighting caste discrimination and its intersections with other forms of inequality and human rights violations. The session formed part of […]

|Categories: Access to justice, Dalit Women, European Union, Human Rights Defenders, India|Tags: |

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UN committee raises concern over persisting intersectional discrimination against Buraku women in Japan

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) raised concern over persisting discrimination and stereotypes against Buraku women at the 17 October review of Japan. The Committee’s Concluding Observations specifically identify, and make recommendations to address, the intersecting forms of discrimination faced by Burkau women, including by drafting a national policy.

|Categories: Dalit Women, Japan, United Nations|Tags: |

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UN Review of civil and political rights in India calls for action on caste discrimination

In July 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Committee reviewed India’s adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Committee expressed serious concerns about ongoing caste-based discrimination and violence, particularly targeting Dalits and Adivasis (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes). This review, alongside a joint submission by IDSN and 12 other NGOs, underscores the […]

|Categories: Access to justice, Dalit Women, India, Political Participation, United Nations, Violence and atrocities|Tags: |

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Dalit women call for global action at #LetsTalkAboutCaste UN side-event

Dalit women human rights defenders highlighted the need to explicitly address caste discrimination, as a root cause of widespread human rights violations, at a UN Human Rights Council IDSN side-event on 18 September 2024. The event also featured a keynote by the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues.

|Categories: Access to justice, Bangladesh, Caste-based slavery, Dalit Children, Dalit Women, Education, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Poverty, South Asia, United Nations, Violence and atrocities|Tags: |

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UN workshop sheds light on barriers to justice for Dalits in South Asia

In the workshop titled “Mapping out Access to Justice for Persons from Descent-Based Communities,” human rights defenders, researchers, legal experts and civil society representatives gathered to discuss some of the pressing issues faced by persons from those communities in South Asia. The three-day workshop held from 19th to 21st August 2024 and organised by the Office of […]

|Categories: Access to justice, Bangladesh, Caste-hate speech, Climate, Dalit Children, Dalit Women, Education, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Political Participation, South Asia, Sri Lanka, United Nations, Violence and atrocities|Tags: |

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Tribute to IDSN’s first Director Rikke Nöhrlind

It is with immense sadness that we have learned that IDSN’s first Director, Rikke Nöhrlind, has passed away. Rikke was an instrumental part of laying the foundations of the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and a formidable force in breaking down barriers and kicking in doors to ensure […]

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UN CERD Review critically examines Pakistan’s efforts to combat caste discrimination

On 8th August 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) conducted a thorough review of Pakistan’s progress in addressing racial discrimination, livecast on UN Web TV. Ahead of the review, IDSN submitted a report outlining significant concerns about ongoing caste-based discrimination, particularly against Dalits, and provided detailed recommendations for the Pakistani government.

|Categories: Access to justice, Caste-based slavery, Dalit Children, Dalit Women, Pakistan, Political Participation, United Nations|Tags: |

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