In advance to the HRC 37 session IDSN distributed its recommendations, referring to the High Commissioners’ on Human Rights reports, interactive dialogue with the SR on minority issues, and the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan’s outcomes.

IDSN board member, Henri Tiphagne, spoke at two side events alongside the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Michel Forst: Protection for human rights defenders in Asia: trends and reflections and Shrinking democratic space in India (supported by IDSN) on 1 and 2 March 2018.

During the HRC 37 session caste-based discrimination and the situation of Dalits were noted at:

• The General Debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance;
• The General Debate on the follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action;
• Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights on his annual report and oral update and in the High Commissioner’s oral update in IDSN news.