IDSN input on the Nexus Between Gender Equality and the Right to Development to the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development

IDSN input on the situation of human rights defenders working on climate change and a just transition for the UN SR on human rights defenders

IDSN input to the Secretary General Minorities Report 2025: Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities

IDSN input on the Worst Forms of Child Labour for UN SR Slavery 2025 report

Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery IDSN input on the Worst Forms of Child Labour – taking stock of progress and remaining challenges

IDSN Submission to UN SR Racism 2025 report

IDSN input on intersectionality from a racial justice perspective to Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism This report has had input from Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN), All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM)- National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM), Better World Shelter and Feminist Dalit Organisation. It is impossible to address intersectionality without a focus on gender and gender justice from a racial justice perspective. Therefore, this submission takes the intersectionality of caste and gender as its central premise.

IDSN submission to 2025 report of the SR Minority issues

IDSN input for the report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues on the contribution of the UN to the full realization of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities

Child labour in the primary production of sugarcane (ILO)

International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour Safety and Health Fact Sheet Hazardous Child Labour in Agriculture – Cotton (ILO, 2025)

Cottonseed survey found ” 87% of the families of working children came from lower castes such as tribal people and dalits … Cotton seed producers usually employed children on a long-term contract basis by paying advances or loans to their parents. A survey of 320 chil- dren working on cotton seed farms revealed that about 95% of the children were in debt bondage: the children were effectively working off their parents’ debts in conditions of near slavery”

IDSN’s Recommendations for the 58th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (24th February – 4th April 2025)

In the context of the reports presented at the 58th Council session, IDSN recommends States to pay particular attention to caste-based discrimination to ensure it is included on par with other forms of discrimination in thematic Human Rights Council resolutions.

Joint Shadow Report on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women regarding Dalit women and girls in Nepal (2025 Full Report)

Submitting Organisations - The joint shadow report was submitted by the Feminist Dalit Organisation and the International Dalit Solidarity Network.

SUMMARY: Joint Shadow Report on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women regarding Dalit women and girls in Nepal (January 2025)

This is a summary brief - The full report submitted for the UN CEDAW 2025 review can be downloaded here https://tinyurl.com/IDSN-FEDO-CEDAW2025 Submitting Organisations - The joint shadow report was submitted by the Feminist Dalit Organisation and the International Dalit Solidarity Network. The FEDO is a Dalit women-led Nepalese NGO. FEDO works towards a discrimination-free society where dignity, human-rights, equal participation and benefits from development are afforded to Dalit women. The IDSN is a global membership network advocating and raising awareness for Dalit human rights.

Report to the SP on violence against women and girls in sports (GFoD Submission April 2024)

Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) Submission to Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls to the UN General Assembly on violence against women andgirls in sport - includes information on Dalit women and girls in Nepal and India

Joint Submission to the UN CEDAW 2024 – Caste and Gender Justice in Nepal

Joint submission by IDSN and Nepal NGOs to the UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Woman (CEDAW) - 2024 review of Nepal. Highlight the need for action on caste and gender justice in Nepal.

UN rights review calls for stronger anti-discrimination measures in Bangladesh (IDSN News – 2024)

In a significant development at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2024, Bangladesh’s review under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) highlighted critical recommendations focused on eliminating caste-based discrimination, with specific references to the plight of the Dalit community. These recommendations were crucially also accepted by the state.

PROTECTING MINORITY RIGHTS: A Practical Guide to Developing Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Legislation (OHCHR and Equal Rights Trust)

PROTECTING MINORITY RIGHTS A Practical Guide to Developing Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Legislation Caste specifically mentioned as descent and included under racial discrimination

Pakistan through Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent Lens (GFOD Report

Country Report on Status of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent in Pakistan published by GFOD - 2023

Advocating for equality: IDSN delegation addresses challenges faced by Dalits at key UN Forums (IDSN news)

An IDSN delegation of Dalit human rights defenders participated in the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights held on 27-29 November as well as the UN Forum on Minority Issues, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 30 November – 1 December 2023. The delegation made an important impact giving statements and participating in panels, sessions and events.

Addressing the situation of Dalits in Bangladesh at the UN UPR pre-session (IDSN News)

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

Joint NGO submission related to the review of Bangladesh for the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review 2023 – The Situation of Dalits in Bangladesh

In March 2023, IDSN, Parittran, Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement, DALIT, and Nagorik Uddyog collaboratively submitted a report to the Universal Periodic Review Secretariat of the UN. This report, based on consultations ongoing since 2018, highlighted the situation of Dalits in Bangladesh.

Recommendations for the 53rd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (19 June – 14 July 2023)

In connection with their participation in the 53rd Human Rights Council session, States are encouraged to consider the ongoing and systemic practice of discrimination based on work and descent, also known as caste-based discrimination, affecting over 260 million people globally. Read the full recommendations issued by IDSN.