Aid institutions gather in Delhi for launch of caste discrimination in disaster relief report
Key humanitarian actors including UNDP, ECHO, the Asian Disaster Reduction & Response Network, USAID and DFID gathered in New Delhi for the launch of the report “Equality in Aid – Addressing Caste Discrimination in Humanitarian Response”.
Dalits: Government must take immediate action to pass caste legislation
Dalits in India have united to issue an urgent appeal to the Indian Government to take immediate action on passing pending legislation amending the Prevention of Atrocities act, meant to stop atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis (tribals) in India. They are also asking the Government to approve a bill to ensure the proper allocation and distribution of budgets for Dalits and Adivasis.
Americans Declare Empathy with Dalits at US Congress event
Descendants of prominent African American families, who led the civil rights movement, presented a Declaration of Empathy to the US congress. The declaration appeals to all Americans to stand in solidarity with the Dalits of South Asia to fight caste discrimination and caste-based slavery.
Arrest of 15 Dalit and Adivasi activists protesting against the government’s broken promises
Dalit and Adivasi activists protested in front of the Indian Parliament Tuesday, to convey their anger that India’s ruling parties have broken their promise to table important budget bills, meant to benefit Dalits and Adivasis (SCP TSP Legislation) and amendments to the act meant to prevent atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis (the SC/ST PoA act).
UN Special Rapporteur calls for new measures to fight violence against women
The Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Rashida Manjoo called for the adoption of different norms and measures to fight violence against women around the world and a binding standard of accountability at the international level.
Campaign launch: MEPs pledge to Stand 4 Human Rights
The Human Rights and Democracy Network has launched a campaign asking Members of the European Parliament and candidates for the EP to take 5 pledges to stand up for human rights.
New Manual Scavenging Legislation: New Hope and New Challenges
India is introducing new manual scavenging legislation meant to eradicate the humiliating practice of manual scavenging, which perseveres despite being outlawed for decades. Indian civil society are welcoming the initiative to introduce new legislation, but are flagging that the proposed draft legislation is missing critical necessary aspects that must be included before legislation is introduced on the 6th December.
Campaign to stop Government shortchanging Dalits
Dalits in India have had enough of clever Government tricks to divert money meant for Dalits – under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan – to other areas unrelated to them. They are demanding new legislation, to ensure that this practice, which has prevailed for years, is stopped and money is returned to the scheduled castes that were meant to benefit from them.
Dalit speaks at UN Minority Forum
This year’s UN Forum on Minority Issues on 26-27 November focused on the rights of religious minorities, an issue of much relevance to Dalits in Pakistan and India. A Dalit representative from the latter country made an intervention in association with IDSN.
UN Human Rights Chief: Bring down the beast of caste discrimination
UN High Commissioner, Navi Pillay, delivers a powerful speech on the urgent need to wipe out the “insidious stain” of caste discrimination and urges the UK not to tarnish their excellent record on human rights, by delaying implementation of UK anti-caste discrimination legislation