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

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

UN Human Rights Council Regular Session 53 Activities (IDSN News 2023)

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.

Contemporary forms of slavery affecting persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minority communities Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, Tomoya Obokata

The report is focused on contemporary forms of slavery affecting persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minority communities. In that context, the Special Rapporteur identifies the main causes of contemporary forms of slavery affecting these groups and the main manifestations, such as chattel slavery; forced and bonded labour; domestic servitude; sexual slavery; child and forced marriage; and child labour.

Speaking out against caste discrimination at the Women at Work Conference – International Dalit Solidarity Network

A unique event organised by the Norwegian Human Rights Fund brought together, activists, experts, trade unions and several international NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, IDSN and OSF.  In a session dedicated to addressing caste-based discrimination, the exploitation of Dalit women in work settings, was raised by speakers at the global Women at Work conference in Nepal, stressing the urgent need to address the situation.  

The UN Special Rapporteur on Slavery highlights the deep-rooted and intersecting forms of discrimination as main causes of contemporary forms of slavery affecting minorities – International Dalit Solidarity Network

At the 51st Regular Session of the Human Rights Council, Mr Tomoya Obokata, the Special Rapporteur on Slavery, will present his report focusing on the Contemporary forms of slavery affecting persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minority communities. Child labour and caste-based discrimination are closely interlinked alongside severe discrimination against Dalit women.

Dalit woman appointed UN Special Rapporteur on Racism – International Dalit Solidarity Network

IDSN welcomes the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Dr. Ashwini K.P., to the post.  Dr. K.P. brings with her valuable knowledge and insight on discrimination based on work and descent and the United Nations.

Indigenous Peoples and the right to freedom of religion or belief

GA report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief – UNGA77

EU meeting with Ahmed Shaheed, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief – International Dalit Solidarity Network

In June, IDSN and a group of other civil society organisations met with Ahmed Shaheed, the current Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, in Brussels.

Leave no-one behind: Addressing business-related human rights issues and exclusion of communities on the basis of caste and descent – International Dalit Solidarity Network

IDSN and the UN OHCHR Minority section brought together an experts’ round table discussion to mark the 30th Anniversary of the UN Minority mandate.

Call for inputs to report on contemporary forms of slavery as affecting persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minority communities

Survey by the SR on contemporary forms of slavery

IDSN 2022 submission to the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Slavery

IDSN submission to the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Slavery for his study about slavery in the informal sector, to be presented at the 77th session of the UNGA.

UN slavery expert raises concern over caste discrimination in Sri Lanka (IDSN News)

Following his visit to Sri Lanka last week, the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Tomoya Obokata, raised concern over caste-based discrimination in Sri Lanka affecting the lives and opportunities for oppressed castes in the country.

Nepal: UN Poverty Expert says caste discrimination is “the single most important factor” explaining why Dalits are disproportionately affected by poverty – International Dalit Solidarity Network

Following his visit to Nepal that started on 29 November, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty, Olivier De Schutter, released a statement highlighting the persistent interconnections between caste and poverty in Nepal. The Rapporteur also raised issues of caste violence and the need to do more to ensure meaningful political representation of Dalit women in Nepal.

Recommendations for the 48 th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (13 September – 8 October 2021)

In connection with their participation in the 48 th 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 more than 260 million people globally.