Survey of Caste in the United States finds discrimination persists

Equality Labs has released a survey report on Caste in the United States. The report came out of a community driven survey conducted in 2016 and has now emerged as a crucial document that both presents the first evidence of Caste discrimination in the US and helps to map the internal hegemonies within our communities. The author write, […]

Report: Dalit men, women and children enslaved in India’s brick making industry

A new report by Anti-Slavery International documents widespread slavery in India’s brick making industry and finds that the majority of workers are Dalits. Whole families, including small children, work 9-12 hour days in debt-bondage with little recourse to justice. The report finds that discrimination and exclusion, along with the way brick kiln moulders are recruited and paid, underpins the […]

Dalit women in India march for justice and access to health and education

You can follow social media updates on the Yatra via @dalitwomenfight both on FaceBook and Twitter. AIDMAM have also issued the following press release with more details on the Yatra: April 22, 2018 Jaipur All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, is organising a 10-day Dalit-Adivasi Mahila Swabhiman Yatra scheduled on April 23 – May 2nd.  What […]

Dalits protest Supreme Court ruling diluting legislation meant to protect them

IDSN is greatly concerned over the rulings weakening of the SC/ST Act, meant to protect victims of caste atrocities, and strongly condemns any use of force against peaceful protesters. The ruling makes it possible to release the accused on anticipatory bail, which the SC/ST Act specifies should not be possible because the accused may use their social caste dominance […]

Halt the Hate – Amnesty campaigns to document hate crimes in India

In the press release on the launch of the tool Amnesty India writes: Over 200 alleged hate crimes in 2017 in India, reveals ‘Halt the hate’ website In 2017, an alarming number of alleged hate crimes – including assault, rape and murder – were reported against people from marginalized groups, especially Dalits and Muslims, said Amnesty International India today, as […]

UN review of Bangladesh highlights the need to ensure non-discrimination of Dalits

Concerns were raised at the review over the narrowing space for civil society, actions undertaken or planned to ensure non-discrimination of Dalits, special measures for minority groups in areas of employment, health and education, and the status of the Anti-discrimination bill. The Committee also asked why reservation quota for Dalits was depended on the adoption of the Anti-discrimination Bill, suggested […]

IDSN Annual Report 2017

We are pleased to bring you the IDSN Annual Report 2017. The report covers key developments and activities within IDSN’s United Nations, European Union, and communications and networking work. The report can be downloaded from our website on http://www.staging.idsn.org/ar2017. The highlights of the report include: The UN OHCHR launched a guidance tool addressing caste-based discrimination and IDSN publishes a […]

UN human rights chief disturbed by discrimination against Dalits in India

The statement came in an annual report to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s March 2018 session where Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said, “In India, I am increasingly disturbed by discrimination and violence directed at minorities, including Dalits and other scheduled castes, and religious minorities such as Muslims. In some cases this injustice appears actively endorsed by local or religious officials. I am concerned […]

IDSN input to the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council

In advance to the HRC 37 session IDSN distributed its recommendations, referring to the High Commissioners’ on Human Rights reports, interactive dialogue with the SR on minority issues, and the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan’s outcomes. IDSN board member, Henri Tiphagne, spoke at two side events alongside the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Michel Forst: Protection for human […]

UN Report: Average Dalit woman dies 14.6 years younger than women from dominant castes

A new report by UN Women finds that a woman’s caste in India increases her exposure to mortality because of intersectional discrimination, poor sanitation and inadequate healthcare. The global report Turning promises into action: gender equality in the 2030 Agenda, examines through a gender lens the progress and challenges in the implementation of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals […]