Special edition newsletter: Dalit women - victims of discrimination and violence
In recent months, international attention to the plight of Dalit women and women from similarly affected communities has increased. The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women is visiting Bangladesh - this is her second trip to a caste-affected country within one month. A side event at the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council will focus on the intersecting forms of discrimination and violence based on caste and gender. Following the Delhi gang rape in December 2012, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on violence against women in India which included references to Dalit women.
Read the IDSN briefing paper on Dalit women; Click here for the IDSN key issue page on Dalit women; Click here to find documents on Dalit women in IDSN's database
** Click on the headlines to read the full stories **
Call for UN focus on Dalit women
Prior to the 23rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), IDSN has called on UN member states to ensure a reference to Dalit women in the upcoming annual resolution on violence against women.
UN expert visits Bangladesh
The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women has returned to South Asia just a few weeks after her visit to India. This time, Rashida Manjoo is spending nine days in Bangladesh from 20-29 May. Prior to her departure, three Bangladeshi NGO’s and IDSN made a joint submission on ’Violence against Dalit Women’ to her office.
Culture of impunity harms Dalit women
On 1 May, the last day of her visit to India, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women said that Dalit women experience some of the worst forms of discrimination and oppression.
Attack on Dalit human rights defenders
Five women’s rights defenders, including at least two Dalits, were assaulted on 12 May while inaugurating an adult literary centre for Dalit women in Lalitpur district, Uttar Pradesh. A locally powerful man who was allegedly opposed to the centre because it would empower Dalit women attacked the activists. Two of the women suffered head injuries. When the Asian Human Rights Commission reported the incident, the suspect was still at large, but he was arrested a few days later.
Life sentences in Haryana rape case
Four of the eight accused in the infamous gang-rape case against a 16-year old Dalit girl in the village of Dabra have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Four others were acquitted due to lack of evidence – so were two men accused of sheltering the suspects. The victim was not satisfied with the acquittals and wishes to take the case further. The gang rape was one of numerous rapes that focused attention on Haryana last year.
Watch IDSN's short film on Dalit women
This film describes how Dalit women are subjected to caste and gender discrimination. They face rape, forced prostitution and numerous other human rights violations. The film was produced by IDSN in 2012 and has so far been watched by more than.5,000 viewers on YouTube.
Press clippings: Facebook drive spawns hope for acid hit Dalit sisters; Dalit woman burned alive for resisting rape; Dalit woman stripped, tied to tree, beaten; Dalit women victims of many forms of oppression; Five held for sexual assault of 10-year old Dalit girl; 80 percent Dalit women face violence in inter-caste marriage; Death of Dalit woman - police to file report; Son molests Dalit girl, father sets her ablaze; Minor Dalit girl gang-raped in Rewari
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