Rights Activists: No global goals without tackling caste (Press Release)
From the streets of South Asia, activists fighting for justice, human rights and freedom from caste apartheid are now bringing the campaign #NoCasteLeftBehind to Europe. The activists will be in Brussels to take part in the European Development Days from 18-19 June.
14 June 2019
“We are here to tell the world that if we are serious about leaving no-one behind, we must put the voices […]
IDSN submits input to the UN Human Rights Commitee ahead of India review
IDSN and The National Dalit Movement for Justice (NDMJ)-NCDHR have submitted input to the UN ahead of the adoption of the list of issues for the 126th session for the state party – INDIA. The submission sets out some of key concerns about violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the Covenant) vis-à-vis the Constitution […]
Oxfam: Caste and gender underpin employment inequality in India
Inequality in employment along caste and gender lines is a massive obstacle to alleviating poverty and inequality in India, finds the Oxfam India report ‘Mind The Gap – State of Employment in India’. The report documents striking disparities in wages and opportunities. The report also highlights the strong links between caste and gender discrimination and forced, bonded […]
Consultation on global action to address discrimination based on work and descent held in Senegal
On April 9-11 IDSN supported the Dakar Consultation on Global Partnership and Joint Actions in Addressing Discrimination based on Work & Descent – DWD, Untouchability, Contemporary Forms of Slavery and Analogous Forms of Discrimination that looked at caste and analogous forms of discrimination across the world to ensure joint actions and strategies to combat this form of discrimination. Information was […]
New EU human rights guidelines highlight the need to address caste in EU’s external action
IDSN welcomes the new EU Human Rights Guidelines on Non-discrimination in External Action, where caste is mentioned several times as a form of discrimination that must be addressed.
It is specified in the guidelines that the term ‘descent’, “includes discrimination against members of communities based on forms of social stratification such […]
MEP’s ask EU to act to end the unjust blocking of IDSN’s UN accreditation
Several high-profile members of the European Parliament have sent a letter to the EU High-Representative for Foreign Affairs, Frederica Mogherini, asking the EU to take action to support IDSN’s 10-year quest for UN accreditation, at the upcoming May meeting of the UN NGO Committee.
The letter from the MEP’s states:
“This continued and deliberate obstruction of the granting […]
Study finds Dalits working in forced and child labour in India’s garment industry
The report offers the most wide-reaching and comprehensive investigation into the conditions of work in India’s home-based garment sector.
“Time and time again studies find that Dalits in the global supply chains are working in forced, bonded and child labour.” says Meena Varma, Executive Director of the International Dalit Solidarity Network. […]
Caste discrimination is blocking progress on the SDGs says UK NGO development network BOND
A new report Caste and Development: Tackling Discrimination Based on Work and Descent has just been released by the UK NGO development network BOND highlighting the urgent need to address caste discrimination in order to progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
UN rights chief warns against “increasing harassment and targeting of” Dalits, Muslims and Adivasis in India
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michele Bachelet, raises concern over increasing marginalisation and discrimination in India, in her speech to the UN Human Rights Council.
Speaking about the situation in India, the High Commissioner shows concern over the fact that, despite significant poverty reduction in general terms, “increasing harassment and targeting of minorities – in particular Muslims and […]