Series of events held highlighting the situation of Dalits in India

An all India convention of Dalit and Adivasi organizations as well as an event on empowering women and girls were held in New Delhi, climate marches were held in Bihar, in Haryana Dalit children observed the Universal Childrens Day to highlight the rights of the child, in Bihar Dalit women marched to end caste and gender violence and in Haryana […]

|Categories: Dalit Children, Dalit Women, India|Tags: |

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Report: Dalits hit hard by 2015 flooding in India, no relief in sight

The assessment team surveyed 8392 households, just under 41% of these were Dalit households. Some of the most striking statistical findings in the report reveal that 90% of those injured in the flooding were Dalits, 95% of the houses damaged were Dalit houses, 92% of livestock damaged belonged to Dalits and that 86% of crop losses were sustained by […]

|Categories: Humanitarian Aid, India|Tags: |

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Caste featured strongly at the 50th anniversary of the UN anti-racism convention

The main aim of the event was to bring together States parties to the Convention to reflect on solutions in eradicating racism and contemporary forms of discrimination. Discrimination related to caste was given solid attention during the day as the importance of the issue was highlighted by speakers from the panel and raised by states and civil society from […]

|Categories: United Nations|Tags: |

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UN Minority Forum: Dalit rights defenders deliver statements on shocking lack of justice for Dalits

This year’s Forum on Minority Issues took place on 24th and-25th November and had a thematic focus on “Minorities in the Criminal Justice System”. This is a key issue that is faced by Dalits in India who are not only impaired from accessing mechanisms of justice but also often the main victims of police torture and custodial death, due […]

|Categories: United Nations|Tags: |

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IDSN Statement – 50 years of ICERD – from paper tigers to global action

IDSN Statement for the 50th Anniversary of the International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination – 26 November 2015 Today, we join you in celebrating 50 years since the momentous occasion where the International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted. Set against the backdrop of the international struggle against Apartheid, […]

|Categories: United Nations|Tags: |

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Stand for Human Rights Campaign launched by Human Rights and Democracy Network

Today The Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN), of which IDSN is a member has launched the year-long campaign Stand 4 Human Rights Defenders. urging the EU to take action on commitments to protects and defend human rights defenders. Please find the full press release below a feel free to share this – also using #Stand4HRDS on social media.

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IDSN November Newsletter

Read the latest IDSN newsletter here http://eepurl.com/bFpUBb : The November edition of the newsletter includes: Caste violence in India rises as Dalits assert their rights Nepal UPR – UN Members deeply concerned about caste Dalit singer arrested and film on caste refused clearance Caste-based discrimination highlighted at Human Rights Council New publication from ADRF on UN mechanisms and caste Caste should be addressed in the […]

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Caste violence in India rises as Dalits assert their rights

In October, the burning to death of two small Dalit children, asleep in their house, grabbed international headlines. The children were reportedly victims of a dispute between Dalits and members of the dominant caste. This horrific incident is unfortunately by no means unique, as the past years have seen a rise in violence, rape and murder of Dalits. The […]

|Categories: Access to justice, Human Rights Defenders, India, Violence and atrocities|Tags: |

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Dalit singer arrested and film on caste refused clearance – the right to expression curtailed in India

A documentary on the caste system and eating habits was withdrawn from a recent film festival in New Delhi. According to the BBC, the documentary “Caste on the Menu Card” was the only film among the 35 sent to India’s information and broadcasting ministry to be refused clearance for “technical” reasons last week. BBC’s Vikas Pandey spoke to the […]

|Categories: India, Political Participation|Tags: |

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Nepal – UN Members deeply concerned about caste discrimination and untouchability

PRESS RELEASE issued jointly by the Nepal Dalit National Social Welfare Organisation (NNDSWO), Dalit NGO Federation (DNF), The Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO) and the Jagaran Media Center (JMC) on behalf of the Dalit Civil Society Organisations Coalition and by the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN). UN Nepal UPR Review calls for effective implementation of Caste-Based Discrimination law (Geneva, […]

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