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Report and press release on HRC26 side-event on ‘caste-based violence against women’ Calls came from top UN officials for a coherent and coordinated approach from the UN in tackling caste-based violence and discrimination, with a particular focus on women and girls. Ms. Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed great concern for the issue of caste-based violence and discrimination and UN Women Policy Director, Saraswathi Menon, summed up the sentiments of the speakers in her statement, “Words and legislation is not enough we need concrete action.The UN has an important role to play and must step up to the plate to help stop caste-based violence against women.” The event had a high attendance and good state representation. Read IDSN’s joint press release, the report from the side-event and the IDSN recommendations to the UN on caste-based discrimination and violence against women.
Global day of action to end caste discrimination The 21st June has been launched by a number of Dalit NGOs as a global day of action to end caste discrimination and marches were carried out in London, Washington DC, San Francisco and India. In London, a letter was presented to Prime Minister David Cameron and in Washington DC protesters picketed outside the Capitol, demanding that Congress pass a binding resolution mandating action by US agencies in caste-affected countries.
Open Letter: A Call for Transparency in the ECOSOC NGO Accreditation Process IDSN has joined other NGOs in sending an open letter to the ECOSOC members calling on them to take measures to stop Committee on NGO members from blocking legitimate human rights organisations from gaining ECOSOC status.
UN CEDAW Committee raises serious concern for Dalit women and the lack of implementation of laws I n the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), review of India on 2 July 2014, the issues of Dalit women and girls were brought up by several experts of the Committee and the Committee noted that Dalit women and the lack of implementation of laws were matters of serious concern.
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) raise concerns for Dalit children in India The CRC review of India took place in Geneva on 2 and 3 June 2014. NCDHR contributed to the India Alliance for Child Rights (IACR) alternative report and participated in the review. Please find documents of caste-references in the CRC Review of India and in the CRC concluding observations on the periodic reports of India.
Farewell to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay Dalit human rights activists met Ms. Pillay in Geneva on 17th June and presented her with a card and gifts to express their gratitude for her unwavering commitment to support them in their struggle to end caste-based discrimination, during her tenure, which ends in August 2014.
Events coming up:
London screening of Indian movie 'Fandry' dealing with issues of caste discrimination and discussion with Director Nagraj Manjule on 21 July 2014 at 5:00 PM, Khalili Lecture Theatre at SOAS in London – organised in association with DSN-UK
Voice for the Voiceless exhibition in Sweden of photos and art of or by Dalits in South Asia – organised by the Dalit Solidarity Network in Sweden. The exhibition will run from the 30th August – 21st September 2014 at Väsby Konsthall.
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