Caste and gender-based violence addressed at IDSN’s first UN side-event

Following IDSN’s ECOSOC accreditation last year, we were delighted to formally sponsor and host our first side event at the 53rd UN Human Rights Council. It took place on Wednesday 5 July 2023 and focused on ‘Addressing the intersection of caste and gender-based violence in South Asia’. The side-event was a great success with good participation and was also livestreamed. We thank the speakers, participants and co-sponsors: International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), FORUM-ASIA, Minority Rights Group and Human Rights Watch (HRW); and supporting organisations Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network (DHRDNet), The Blue Club, Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO), National Council of Women Leaders (NCWL), for making this a wonderful event. Do read the full article on the event and the statements by the speakers.

Dalit Human Rights Defenders participate in UN Human Rights Council 53 Activities

Since receiving our ECOSOC status in December 2022, IDSN was finally able to participate in its own right in the 53rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council. IDSN highlighted the need to keep caste discrimination on the international agenda through recommendations, meeting with Permanent Missions and statements at Interactive Dialogues made by IDSN affiliates.

Swapon Kumar Das, the Executive Director of DALIT in Khulna, Bangladesh read out a statement at the Interactive Dialogue on the Special Rapporteur (SR) on climate change. Jarna Das working for Parittran in Khulna, Bangladesh, also an affiliate of IDSN’s, read a statement at the Interactive Dialogue on the Special Rapporteur on trafficking, and Kalpana Biswakarma, part of the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights in New Delhi, India, a member of IDSN, prepared a statement to be read at the Interactive Dialogue on the Special Rapporteur on Poverty.

How caste-hate speech is helping to entrench discrimination (Nepal Live)

IDSN and IDSN Nepal affiliate, Dignity Initiative, contributed to this article on Nepal Live highlighting the need to address caste-hate speech in Nepal. 

Update on the work by FEDO to ensure the rights of Dalit women

IDSN member Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) have shared an e-bulletin on their fantastic work throughout April-July to ensure the rights of Dalit women in Nepal and end caste discrimination. 

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