IDSN is hosting a side-event at the 53rd UN Human Rights Council meeting on 5 July 2023, from 11-12 CET in Room XXV at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. The event, entitled “Addressing the intersections between caste & gender-based violence in South Asia,” aims to shed light on the ongoing issues of caste-based sexual violence experienced by Dalit women and girls in South Asia.
The panelists, consisting of human rights activists and experts, will discuss the latest developments in the #CasteGenderJustice space, challenges faced by survivors and activists seeking justice, and offer recommendations for addressing this issue. The event aims to bring the issue of caste-based sexual violence in South Asia into the international spotlight, highlighting the challenges and barriers to justice faced by Dalit survivors.
The discussions will delve into the increasing assertion of rights by Dalit women and the ensuing repression and backlash faced by these human rights defenders. It will also chart out ideas for strengthening national and international networks of Dalit women and increasing visibility in key global human rights fora.
The programme will take the form of an in-person, interactive panel discussion designed to engage UN member state delegates, mission staff, civil society organisations, and UN agencies.
The event will be moderated by Meena Varma, Executive Director of IDSN. The opening remarks will be delivered by Hannah Wu, Chief of the Women’s Rights and Gender Section at UNOHCHR.
The panel will feature:
- Manjula Pradeep, Human Rights Activist, Director of Campaigns, Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network & National Convenor, National Council of Women Leaders
- Sarita Barma, Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) Nepal
- Priyadharsini Palaniswamy, Founder, The Blue Club
The side-event is sponsored by IDSN, International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), FORUM-ASIA, Minority Rights Group, and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Participating organisations include Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network (DHRDNet), The Blue Club, Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO), and National Council of Women Leaders (NCWL).