Addressing the situation of Dalits in Bangladesh at the UN UPR pre-session

Probir Sircar, from IDSN’s affiliate organisation, Parittran, was invited by UPR Info, to deliver a statement during the pre-session of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Bangladesh in Geneva on 30 September 2023. The event was organised in view of the upcoming UPR of Bangladesh, which will take place on 13 November 2023.

Ahead of the pre-session, IDSN, Parittran, Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement, DALIT, and Nagorik Uddyog collaboratively submitted a report to the UPR Secretariat of the UN. This report, based on consultations ongoing since 2018, highlighted the situation of Dalits in Bangladesh.

Mr. Sircar's statement echoed the concerns highlighted in the report and his observations from his daily work with Dalit rights in Bangladesh. He was the first Dalit from the community to be selected to be on the UPR panel for Bangladesh.

Youth at the forefront: Kathmandu events boost advocacy to end caste/descent-based discrimination

Marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a series of events focusing on combatting descent-based discrimination, through the prism of access to justice and the role of youth in South Asia, were held in Kathmandu. Spanning four days, from 4-7 September, 2023, the events were organized jointly by Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section (IPMS)/Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFOD).
 
The events successfully achieved the aim of energizing youth, directly addressing issues of descent-based discrimination, and providing younger human rights defenders with international advocacy tools. Moreover, the events provided a platform for participants to present proposals to IPMS-OHCHR, ensuring that the momentum built during these Kathmandu sessions is carried forward into future endeavours.

Caste Discrimination highlighted in the EU’s Annual Human Rights Report

The European Union recently unveiled its Annual Report on Human Rights, shedding light on various global concerns. Notably, the report offers insights into the EU’s stance and interactions related to caste discrimination and the rights of Dalits.
 
The report underscores the EU’s recognition of the challenges faced by Dalits and other marginalised communities in India. While the report touches upon various other human rights concerns in India, the mention of caste-based discrimination signifies the importance the EU places on this issue affecting over 200 million Dalits in India.
 
In the Nepal section, the report states that the EU considers, “Discrimination related to caste, gender, ethnic or religious background, one of the biggest impediments to development in Nepal.” The section highlighted the country’s electoral activities in 2022 and also emphasised the persistent issue of discrimination based on caste, gender, and other factors. Despite Nepal’s legislative efforts to safeguard the rights of Dalits, the report notes that certain discriminatory practices continue. 
 
In the Bangladesh chapter of the report Dalits were not mentioned directly, however, the report did place importance on the draft anti-discrimination legislation which has been under consideration with the parliament in 2022, and has long been advocated for by Dalit activists in Bangladesh.

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