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Join the 100 day campaign against caste discrimination and untouchability
“I commit to end caste-based discrimination and untouchability!” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, kicking off the campaign. We strongly encourage our readers to use 30 seconds to enter your name and email on the website >> to pledge your support. Read the IDSN press release here >>
Pakistan’s Dalits denied flood relief because of caste discrimination
The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardai, has spoken out against this discrimination against Dalits in the ongoing flood relief work saying that any discrimination in extending rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations to anyone on the basis of caste “unacceptable”.
India: Police kill at least six Dalits in shoot out – evidence of torture also found
People’s Watch Tamil Nadu have undertaken a fact finding mission on the police shooting of at least 6 Dalits on Sunday 11 September in Tamil Nadu. The preliminary findings confirm that police were to blame for the incident and that several of those allegedly shot dead had been subjected to police torture.
UN: End the bonded labour system in Nepal
The UN and national level Dalit bodies are urging the Government to end the bonded labour Haliya system, and implement rehabilitation schemes for freed Haliyas.
Caste-based slavery highlighted in UN debate
The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery stressed that children from marginalised groups, including tribal and lower caste communities, are "doubly vulnerable to abuses" in the mining sector.
UN: UK should outlaw caste discrimination
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recommends that the UK Government prohibit caste discrimination and provide remedies to victims.
Scores convicted of Dalit torture
A court in southern India has convicted 269 police and forest officials of torturing and abusing more than 100 Dalits in a raid in 1992, reports the BBC, Washington Post and New York Times.
ITUC report highlights caste discrimination
Several important references to caste discrimination are included in the Core Labour Standards in India report for the WTO September review of India’s trade policies, released by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Featured Article: Dalits Remain 'Untouchables' (Huffington Post) Davinder Kumar formulates a critique focusing on the United Nations’ reluctance to address the issue of caste discrimination. Kumar argues that the system fails to guarantee fairness to all and tends to follow popular and “sexy” causes, even in the human rights arena.
Book Release: The Grammar of Caste
Linking the economics of caste with its politics, sociology, and history, Ashwini Deshpande provides an assessment of continuities and changes in caste disparities over the last two decades.
More news includes: India >> British Government response to MP's report on DFID aid to India; NCDHR's latest Newsletter; Press clippings; // Nepal >> FEDO's latest Newsletters; Press clippings // Bangladesh >> Dalits demand housing; Press clippings // Pakistan >> Press clippings on discrimination in flood relief efforts
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