At the 2024 UN Forum on Minority Issues, IDSN delegates called for action on caste-based discrimination and exclusion. Sundar Bahadur Sheni from Nepal emphasised the need for Dalit inclusion in political and public spaces, highlighting the barriers faced by Dalit women. Hariharan Karuppusamy from India addressed the pervasive problem of caste-based hate speech on social media, calling for stronger regulatory measures and culturally informed solutions. Their contributions underscored the urgency of combating caste discrimination and amplifying marginalised voices globally.
The Forum was held in Geneva on 28-29 November, focusing on the theme of “Minority representation and self-representation in public spaces and discourses”. Both delegates actively engaged in sessions and side-events, with Sundar Sheni delivering a speech in the plenary session and Hariharan Karuppusamy recording his statement in a UN room for dissemination through IDSN channels, as it was unfortunately not delivered at the official event due to an administrative error.
Advocating for Dalit Inclusion in Nepal
Sundar Bahadur Sheni, from Dalit Welfare Organisation (DWO) in Nepal, highlighted the deep-rooted exclusion faced by Dalits in Nepal, particularly Dalit women, who endure intersecting layers of discrimination that create barriers to their participation in public and political life. Despite Nepal’s constitutional guarantees of inclusion, caste-based prejudice persists, compounded by caste-hate speech both online and offline, Mr. Sheni explained.
He urged immediate action to bridge these gaps and presented specific recommendations, including promoting Dalit gender balance in elections, integrating Dalit representation into councils of ministers, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, implementing business and human rights policies with a focus on minority rights and fostering Dalit leadership in public institutions. He concluded by calling for urgent action and policies against caste-based discrimination.
Download the full statement here and watch a video of the statement on LinkedIn.
Addressing Caste-Based Hate Speech Online
Hariharan Karuppusamy shed light on the challenges posed by caste-hate speech in the digital age, particularly in India, where online platforms are rife with discriminatory content against Dalits. He noted the widespread use of social media to perpetuate verbal abuse, bullying and threats, which disproportionately affect Dalit women and girls through degrading and violent rhetoric. He further noted that the misrepresentation of Dalits online results in an increase in the violence and sexual violence committed against Dalit women and girls.
Mr. Karuppusamy recommended that governments and businesses formally recognise caste-hate speech as a distinct form of discrimination and prioritise its regulation. He called for technology platforms to enhance implementation of anti-hate speech policies by investing in culturally informed AI and expert teams. Citing the efforts of his organization, READ, in empowering Dalit women with knowledge of their rights, he emphasised that addressing caste-hate speech is crucial for fostering a just and inclusive society.
Watch the full video of the statement here or download the written version here.
In addition to the delegates from India and Nepal, Siphon Kumar Robidas from Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM) was also invited to attend but was unfortunately not able to attend in person. He did prepare a pre-recorded video statement sharing how Dalits in Bangladesh face discrimination and human rights issues including in their work life. Watch the video statement here.
The participation and contributions of IDSN’s delegation at the UN Forum reinforces the urgency of addressing caste discrimination globally and advocating for substantive and proportionate representation of Dalit communities in public life.
IDSN laments that the young Dalit women delegates from South Asia, who were also meant to participate in the Forum, were not granted visa’s due to increasingly restrictive visa rules where they were deemed to be at risk of not returning to their home countries. This is a major loss in relation to ensuring direct representation of Dalit women at important global for a such as the UN and EU.