|
|
|
|
In this newsletter:
- Dalits protest Supreme Court ruling that dilutes legislation meant to protect them
- Dalit women in India march for justice and access to health and education
- Halt the Hate – Amnesty campaigns to document hate crimes in India
- Report: Dalit men, women and children enslaved in India’s brick making industry
- UN review of Bangladesh highlights the need to ensure non-discrimination of Dalits
- IDSN input to the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council
- India’s Forbidden Love: An Honour Killing on Trial
- Rare slavery verdicts spark hope for ending caste-based slavery in Mauritania
- IDSN Annual Report
|
|
A ruling by the Supreme Court of India, diluting the provisions related to anticipatory bail and immediate arrest under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (PoA) Act, has sparked mass protest.
The protesters have been met with police brutality leading to injuries and the death of several protesters. IDSN is greatly concerned over the rulings weakening of the SC/ST Act, which are meant to protect victims of caste atrocities, and strongly condemns any use of force against peaceful protesters.
|
|
|
Dalit women activists marched from 23 April – 2 May through 30 villages in Rajasthan, to highlight atrocities against Dalit women, and the need for access to justice, education and health. The march, known in India as a ‘Yatra’, was organised by the All India Dalit Mahila Adhikaar Manch (AIDMAM) and comes at a crucial time in Rajasthan where reports of caste-related atrocities are rife. The activists are meeting students, local activists, health workers, local administration and many other actors to understand the issues on the ground and to amplify the voices for justice. Photo by: AIDMAM
|
|
|
Amnesty India has launched a new online tool on haltthehate.amnesty.org.in aimed at collecting documentation for hate crimes from across India. Many of the crimes already documented on the tool are atrocities committed against Dalits. Everyone working on Dalit rights in India are invited to contribute to the database of cases on the site.
|
|
A new report by Anti-Slavery International documents widespread slavery in India’s brick making industry and finds that the majority of workers are Dalits. Whole families, including small children, work 9-12 hour days in debt-bondage with little recourse to justice.
The report finds that discrimination and exclusion, along with the way brick kiln moulders are recruited and paid, underpins the widespread existence of slavery in the kilns and the limited opportunities for workers to escape.
|
|
Bangladesh was reviewed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights from 15-16 March 2018. An IDSN delegation, including Dalit representatives from Bangladesh, took part in the review where several issues relating to caste-based discrimination were discussed.
Ahead of the review IDSN and its members in Bangladesh - BDERM and NNMC submitted a joint report for the consideration of the committee. BDERM also issued a press release on the review.
|
|
|
In advance of the UN HRC 37 IDSN distributed its recommendations, referring to the High Commissioner on Human Rights reports, the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, and the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan. IDSN board member Henri Tiphagne also spoke at key side-events and the situation of Dalits was noted in several debates.
|
|
|
|
Al Jazeera has released a documentary video tracking the fatal outcome of a relationship across caste lines between a young non-Dalit woman and a Dalit man in India. The young man was killed by the woman’s relatives and the video shows how deeply ingrained caste discrimination remains in the country. Watch the video here.
|
|
For centuries a hereditary system of servitude has forced members of the Haratine ethnic minority to be subjected to slavery in Mauritania, working without pay as cattle herders and domestic servants, despite an official ban.
In March, Mauritania sentenced two men to 20 years in prison and one woman to 10 years in prison for enslaving their fellow citizens. These three rulings are extraordinary in the West African country, which has exceptionally few prosecutions for slavery. IDSN welcomes the verdicts as a sign of progress in the country.
|
|
|
We are pleased to bring you the IDSN Annual Report 2017. The report covers key developments and activities within IDSN’s United Nations, European Union, and communications and networking work. The report can be downloaded from our website on http://www.idsn.org/ar2017.
The highlights of the report include:
- The UN OHCHR launched a guidance tool addressing caste-based discrimination and IDSN publishes a roadmap to the new tool
- The UPRs of India and Pakistan yielded several recommendations on caste-based discrimination
- Treaty body reviews of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka included recommendations on caste discrimination
- Young Dalit women speak out at the UN Forum on Minority Issues
- Reports and statements from Special Rapporteurs include references to caste-based discrimination
- Dalit activists take part in IDSN’s workshop on UN and EU advocacy in Nepal
- MEPs send an open letter on caste discrimination ahead of the EU-India summit
- EU’s Annual Report, and the European Parliament’s Annual Report, on human rights highlight concern over caste discrimination
- Dalit activists take part in the EU NGO forum
Report cover photo by: Abir Abdullah - Bangladesh
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
