UN Special Rapporteur makes key recommendations on caste-hate speech in report on the UN Forum on Minority Issues

The Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernande de Varennes, has cited caste multiple times in his recent report to the UN Human Rights Council, in Paragraphs 35, 58, 67 and 84. These recommendations were derived from the thirteenth session on the UN Forum on Minority Issues. The theme of the thirteenth session on the UN Minority Forum was ‘Hate speech, […]

|Categories: Caste-hate speech, Political Participation, United Nations|Tags: |

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UN UPR Review: Nepal receives 14 recommendations on addressing caste-based discrimination

During the 3rd Cycle of the UN Universal Periodic Review of Nepal, the country received at least 14 recommendations on caste, including education of Dalit girls, implementation of the legislation combatting caste based discrimination, inclusion in society, excessive use of force by the police and many others. On the 21st January, Nepal was reviewed by other UN member states through […]

|Categories: Nepal, United Nations|Tags: |

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IDSN Recommendations for the UN Human Rights Council 46th Session

IDSN has issued and disseminated recommendations for the UN HRC46 – see the recommendations below and download a PDF version here. Recommendations for the 46th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (22 February – 23 March 2021)  In connection with their participation in the 46th Human Rights Council session, states are encouraged to consider the ongoing […]

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Nepal Universal Periodic Review 2021 – Fact Sheet on caste discrimination

IDSN has issued this fact sheet jointly with the Dalit NGO Federation (DNF) for the Universal Periodic Review of Nepal, listing recommendations, that have been responded to and noted, as well as the national framework of Nepal. The factsheet is based on the Joint Stakeholder Submission of Non-governmental Organization, released by Dalit Civil Society Organizations’ Coalition for UPR, Nepal […]

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Human Rights Watch World Report highlights caste discrimination in India, Nepal and Mauritania

The report covering events of 2020 highlights severe human rights violations faced by the lowest castes in the these countries, especially focusing on civil society and freedom of association, the intersection of caste and gender discrimination, childrens rights, slavery and the impact of Covid-19. Below are the key caste extracts of […]

|Categories: Africa, Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, Violence and atrocities|Tags: |

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Joint Statement: EU Should Speak Out Against India’s Rights Violations

Bilateral Human Rights Dialogue Scheduled for January 12 (Brussels,January 11, 2021) —  The EU should  take a strong stand and press India to immediately end systemic human rights violations, seven organizations said today, ahead of the European Union-India human rights dialogue scheduled for  January 12, 2021. India should also free all detained […]

|Categories: European Union, India|Tags: |

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Ethical Trade Norway event highlights the need to tackle caste discrimination in global supply chains

IDSN presented on the panel of the event “Modern Slavery: Stakeholder dialogue on Caste in Global Supply Chains” organised by Ethical Trade Norway on 14 December,  to discuss ways to tackle caste discrimination in global supply chains and the need for global companies to act on this. Kicking off the event the Executive Director of Ethical Trade Norway, Heidi Furustøl, […]

|Categories: Business, Solidarity Networks, South Asia|Tags: |

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IDSN speaks out about caste-hate speech at EU NGO Forum keynote panel

IDSN highlighted the need for urgent action to curb caste-hate speech “spreading like wildfire”, speaking at the EU NGO Human Rights Forum keynote panel on ‘Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in the Digital Sphere’. Speaking on behalf of IDSN, Ritwajit Das, explained to the Forum participants that while social media has […]

|Categories: Dalit Women, European Union, Human Rights Defenders, India, Nepal, Political Participation, South Asia, Violence and atrocities|Tags: |

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UN experts raise concern over caste-based slavery

UN experts spoke out about the links between discrimination and slavery at the webinar “Contemporary Slavery & Racial Discrimination: Civil Society Support to Survivors during the Pandemic” organised by the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, the Geneva Human Rights Platform and the UK Mission in Geneva, on […]

|Categories: Caste-based slavery, India, Manual Scavenging, Nepal, South Asia, United Nations|Tags: |

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Report: Justice is denied in caste-based sexual violence cases

The report ‘Justice Denied: Sexual Violence and Intersectional Discrimination’ just released by Equality Now in collaboration with Swabhiman Society, looks at barriers to accessing justice for Dalit women and girls in Haryana, India. The report analyses 40 cases of sexual violence in Haryana and highlights their journey through the criminal justice system. It describes the specific […]

|Categories: Dalit Women, Human Rights Defenders, India, Violence and atrocities|Tags: |

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