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UN Human Rights Chief to speak out on caste-based rape and violence against women and girls
On Tuesday 17th June Ms. Navi Pillay, will give the opening statement at a side-event on caste-based violence against women, at the UN Human Rights Council.
Dalit women fight! - new IDSN pamphlet
The pamphlet contains information on Dalit women’s human rights, key issues, cases, quotes from activists, INGOs, the UN and the EU and calls to action.
UN raising concern for caste discrimination from all quarters Within the span of a month the urgent issue of caste discrimination has been highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Freedom of Assembly, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UNDP.
Global media outrage over rape and hanging of teenage girls in India
The case of the rape and hanging of two girls in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, has caused a global media storm of reports on rape and violence against women in India and the strong links to caste discrimination. Numerous stories have highlighted that India’s ‘rape culture’ and ‘culture of impunity’ will not end until caste discrimination is tackled head on. Leading Human Rights NGOs and the UN have also made statements.
Justice under Trial: Caste discrimination in access to Justice
A comprehensive report just released by the National Dalit Movement for Justice (NCDHR) finds serious obstacles to Dalits obtaining justice in crimes against them and reports growing impunity when victims are Dalits. The report findings mirror many of the findings in the report Claiming Justice released in April.
IDSN’s fight for UN consultative status – a case of reprisal against a human rights NGO
For seven years IDSN’s application for UN ECOSOC consultative status has been blocked on spurious grounds. IDSN's application is now the application that has been deferred the longest by the ECOSOC committee.
Dalit women activists bring the struggle to end violence against Dalit women to Europe
Asha Kowtal, General Secretary of the National Dalit Women’s movement in India (AIDMAM) and a Dalit filmmaker Thenmozhi Soundararajan spoke at a number of significant events in Europe to report back on the recent Self-respect march for Dalit women in India and highlight violence against Dalit women.
Dalit leaders speak at EU Human Rights Defenders Forum
Dalit Human rights defenders and a team from the IDSN secretariat took part in The European Instrument on Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) 2014 Forum on Protecting Those Who Protect. Asha Kowtal, General Secretary of the National Dalit Women’s movement in India, spoke about Dalit women human rights defenders as part of a panel while Henri Tiphagne raised the issue of shrinking space for human rights defenders in India.
Nepal: Dalits hold 12 day campaign against caste discrimination and untouchability
In Nepal Dalit rights organisations have held a 12-day campaign to end caste discrimination and untouchability culminating in a meeting with the Prime Minister. The campaign is a collective effort of Dalit CSOs to fight against caste-based discrimination in Nepal. Dalit organisations are calling for the full implementation of the Caste Based Discrimination and Untouchability Act if Nepal is to reach it’s declared goal of becoming and “Untouchability Free Nation”.
Bangladesh: Seminar held to improve water and sanitation for Dalits
The Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM) organised a seminar on government and non-government interventions for improving the water and sanitation situation of Dalit communities titled ‘Water & Sanitation: Accessibility & Reality of Dalit Community’.
News Clippings:
The mailboxes at IDSN have been overflowing with press clippings of atrocities and violations of Dalit rights this past month. It is impossible to reflect all this here. We have included just a few examples below and some key global coverage of the Badaun case – which sadly is not unique as there have been many cases like it in the past.
Press Clippings of caste discrimination and impunity in rape and murder cases
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