Rights defenders: 27 manual scavengers die in one month – Government must act now

The call comes following the death of 27 manual scavengers in India within the span of one month, outlined in a press release by rights NGO Safai Karmchari Andolan (SKA). In response, the New Delhi Government has since imposed a blanket ban on manual cleaning of sewers, saying offenders are to be booked under culpable homicide, which if […]

|Categories: Access to justice, India, Manual Scavenging|Tags: |

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India cuts off funding to IDSN member for reporting to UN Experts

IDSN member People’s Watch is fighting a legal battle in the Indian courts to regain their foreign funding license, first revoked by the Indian Government in 2012. The organisation, a program unit  of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns [CPSC], has been charged by the Ministry of Home Affairs with “using foreign contributions to the detriment of India’s […]

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

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Dalit women in Nepal enter local government in record numbers

When a record number of Dalit women now take their seat in local Government across the country it is indeed a dream come true. IDSN members in Nepal have been working for decades to increase the political participation of Dalit women in Nepal, resulting in the 2017 Local Level Election Act  stipulating that at least one of the […]

|Categories: Dalit Women, Nepal, Political Participation|Tags: |

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SDGs in action: Dalit women in Nepal

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 […]

|Categories: Access to justice, Dalit Women, Nepal, Political Participation, United Nations|Tags: |

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UN Side-event: Blocking of civil society access to the UN must end now

“It is vital that the Committee takes timely decisions on deferred applications and ensure that it carries out its work in an efficient, effective and transparent manner.” Mr. François Delattre, Permanente Representative of France to the United Nations said in a statement on behalf of Member State co-hosts France, United Kingdom and Uruguay. He then welcomed representatives of […]

|Categories: Human Rights Defenders, Political Participation, United Nations|Tags: |

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UN CESCR Review: Pakistan neglect to acknowledge rights abuses against Dalits

Rights activist, Pirbhu Lal Satyani, from Sindh, Pakistan, spoke during the review urging the Government to acknowledge the serious human rights issues faced by Dalits in Pakistan. Mr. Satyani formed part of IDSN’s delegation to the review, representing the Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network. He briefed committee members giving a statement on the key issues faced by Dalits in Pakistan, […]

|Categories: Pakistan, United Nations|Tags: |

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Call to action: Outlaw caste discrimination in the UK

Caste discrimination occurs in diaspora communities from caste affected countries living in the UK, and is currently not adequately addressed. Rights campaigners have therefore been working for years to ensure that the Government take action to implement the caste clause of the UK Equality Act, as agreed by the UK Parliament in 2013. According to The Government Equalities Office (GEO) […]

|Categories: Access to justice, UK|Tags: |

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Dalit rights issues raised at the NGO event of the year in Finland

“The Dalit Solidarity Network in Finland (DSNFi) participated in the World Village Festival on May 27-28. The festival had 78 000 visitors during the weekend. It is annual multicultural event organised by the Kepa – the platform for Finnish CSOs. The festival program includes discussions on global themes related to human rights and sustainable development and cultural program like […]

|Categories: Solidarity Networks|Tags: |

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UN Members States: India must do more to uphold the rights of Dalits

Several states addressed the need to introduce new policies and implement existing ones to prevent violence and attacks against Dalits, as well as ensuring justice for victims of such crimes. Others addressed the need to ensure free and compulsory universal education and prioritise anti-discrimination measures in its provision, protect the rights of Dalit women and uphold the countries anti-discrimination […]

|Categories: Access to justice, India, United Nations|Tags: |

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India urged to address caste discrimination in new Disaster Risk Reduction plan

It is a well-documented fact that in disaster situations Dalits are often discriminated against when it comes to relief work as well as rebuilding homes, livelihoods and offering compensation for assets lost. It has therefore been a key demand from human rights campaigners for many years that India address caste discrimination directly and openly in its disaster risk response […]

|Categories: Humanitarian Aid, India|Tags: |

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