Millions of Dalit Muslims face caste discrimination

The caste-related problems of India’s Dalit Muslims are rarely addressed, neither by the government nor their own religious community. Contrary to Dalit Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, they are not classified in the ‘scheduled caste’ category, but the fact remains that they often face similar types of discrimination as fellow Dalits of other religious backgrounds. This has yet again been confirmed […]

|Categories: India|Tags: |

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UN expert supports IDSN at Human Rights Council

The obstruction of IDSN’s application for consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was discussed at the UN Human Rights Council on 17 June when the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of assembly and association, Maina Kiai, presented his thematic report on fundamentalism. “Let me use the example of the International Dalit Solidarity Network which applied for […]

|Categories: Country/region, Human Rights Defenders, India, United Nations|Tags: |

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Infamous NGO Committee excludes human rights defenders from the UN

COPENHAGEN, 1 JUNE — The UN Committee on NGOs has become infamous as a tool of states that do not respect human rights and civil society. The Committee’s practice of repeatedly deferring NGO applications for consultative status with the UN has reached such an alarming extent that it undermines global human rights, the International Dalit Solidarity Network said today. At […]

|Categories: India, United Nations|Tags: |

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IDSN cited as example of obstruction against NGOs

In an unprecedented move, NGOs from around the world have joined forces to defend freedom of association at the United Nations. In a letter to ECOSOC member states, they have expressed concern about the long-term practice of some States to block UN accreditation for NGOs. This practice has turned the ECOSOC […]

|Categories: Human Rights Defenders, United Nations|Tags: |

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HRW urges India to stop treating critics as criminals

The Indian authorities use the country’s “vaguely worded, overly broad laws” to silence and harass critics, Human Rights Watch says in a new report released today. Dalit activists and artists are among the victims of such policies. “India’s abusive laws are the hallmark of a repressive society, not a vibrant democracy,” the organisation’s South Asia director, Meenakshi Ganguly, said as […]

|Categories: India, Uncategorized|Tags: |

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Global conference urged to discuss rights of 300 million Dalit and indigenous women

COPENHAGEN, 11 MAY 2016 — When leaders and activists from all over the world gather in Copenhagen next week to focus on the health and human rights of girls and women, their discussions must include two large groups that suffer extreme social exclusion and marginalisation, the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) and the International Dalit Solidarity Network […]

|Categories: Dalit Women, Uncategorized, United Nations|Tags: |

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UN Special Rapporteur criticises India’s FCRA

India’s controversial Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has come under attack by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association, Maina Kiai. In a recently published legal analysis, he argues that the Act does not conform with international law, principles and standards. The much criticised piece of legislation restricts the ability of civil society organisations to receive foreign […]

|Categories: Human Rights Defenders, India, United Nations|Tags: |

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UN expert: India should legislate against housing discrimination

India needs legislation to combat all forms of “de facto housing discrimination” against any individual or groups, including Dalits, the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Leilani Farha, said at the conclusion of her visit to India from 11-22 April. The call for legislative measures was one of numerous recommendations that the Special Rapporteur offered in a […]

|Categories: development, India, United Nations|Tags: |

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AI Germany presents rights award to Henri Tiphagne

The German section of Amnesty International has presented its 8th Human Rights Award to the Indian lawyer, human rights defender and campaigner against caste discrimination, Henri Tiphagne. The award ceremony took place at the Maxim-Gorky-Theatre in Berlin on 25 April. In her tribute to Henri Tiphagne, AI Germany Director Selmin Çalışkan noted that his “passionate advocacy in the fight against […]

|Categories: Human Rights Defenders, India, Violence and atrocities|Tags: |

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Highlights – Dr. Ambedkar 125th Anniversary Celebrations

On 13th April 2016, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York hosted a Special Event at the UN Headquarters to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, father of the Indian Constitution and human rights champion for the millions of people affected by caste-based discrimination. United Nations Development Programme Administrator and Chair […]

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