Over the past months, IDSN has been actively engaging across the UN Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and with several Special Rapporteurs to ensure that addressing caste discrimination remain firmly on the international human rights agenda. Below is an overview of key interventions, submissions and advocacy efforts undertaken between June and November 2025.

Human Rights Council 59 (June–July 2025)

IDSN contributed extensively to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC59), both through direct submissions and through engagement with civil society and diplomatic missions.

Key submissions and engagements included:

  • HRC recommendations shared with Dalit Solidarity Networks (DSNs), Permanent Missions and International Associates.
    ➤ IDSN Recommendations to HRC59
  • Participation in EU NGO pre-HRC meetings, and continued engagement with the HRC President and NGO platforms before and during the session.
  • Submission to the Special Rapporteur on Racism, addressing intersectionality from a racial justice perspective.
    ➤ Submission to SR on Racism
  • Oral statement delivered by Abirami Jotheeswaran (AIDMAM – NCDHR) during the Interactive Dialogue with the SR on Racism, discussing the SR’s report on intersectionality.
    ➤ Watch the oral statement (start at 27:36)

Human Rights Council 60 (September 2025)

IDSN continued its strong engagement in HRC60, contributing to thematic mandates on slavery, development and child labour.

Submissions and Activities

  • HRC recommendations disseminated to DSNs, Permanent Missions, and International Associates.
    ➤ IDSN Recommendations to HRC60
  • Continued participation in informal pre-session meetings and engagements with the HRC President and NGO networks.
  • Submission to the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, focusing on the worst forms of child labour.
    ➤ Submission to SR on Slavery
  • Submission to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development on the nexus between gender equality and the right to development.
    ➤ Submission to SR on the Right to Development
  • Two written statements to the Council:
    ➤ To SR on Slavery: A/HRC/60/NGO/176
    ➤ To SR on Right to Development: A/HRC/60/NGO/261
  • Oral statement delivered by Bhagwani Rathore during the Interactive Dialogue with the SR on Slavery, highlighting concerns around child labour and caste-based exploitation.
    ➤ Watch the oral statement (start at 2:41:56)

Submissions for Human Rights Council 61 (February–March 2026)

In preparation for HRC61, IDSN has already made key contributions:

Submissions to the UN General Assembly (September 2025, New York)

IDSN contributed to several reports feeding into the 2025 UNGA session:

Additional Submissions for Future UN Processes

IDSN also engaged proactively with several upcoming UN mechanisms:

  • Submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by Aiswarya Rao.
  • Input to the SR on Minorities ahead of the Nepal country visit, based on IDSN’s UPR report executive summary.
    ➤ Executive Summary – Nepal UPR 4th Cycle