Vulnerable workers in supply chains need urgent protection to survive impact of Covid-19

IDSN Statement – We strongly urge governments and companies with supply chains in South Asia, to take measures to urgently protect migrant and informal workers, including Dalits, against a loss of income, social benefits, shelter and a means to feed themselves and their families, as Covid-19 measures and repercussions threaten their lives and livelihoods. These workers often have no […]

Saving lives by preventing discrimination in COVID-19 relief

IDSN Statement – 27 March 2020 As COVID-19 sweeps across the world it is crucial that we ensure that relief, health services and awareness raising efforts are inclusive and accessible to all irrespective of caste, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or other factors. While time is of the essence in the response to COVID-19, taking a moment to ensure […]

IDSN Annual Report 2019

The IDSN Annual Report 2019-2020 covers key developments and activities within IDSN’s work under the thematic areas Dalit women and gender justice, business and human rights and equality and participation, within the United Nations, European Union, and communications and networking programmes. The highlights of the report include: IDSN supports UN side-event […]

UN women’s committee raises concern over intersecting caste, religious and gender discrimination in Pakistan

The Committee’s observations are the result of an interactive process with NGOs and the state party where IDSN has also submitted a report detailing the challenges faced by Dalit women and girls in Pakistan. The report highlighted forced conversions and abductions of Dalit girls and women, modern slavery in for example […]

Report outlines recommendations for action on caste and gender justice in Nepal

A comprehensive report on the status of Dalit women in Nepal has been released by IDSN member the Feminist Dalit Organization Nepal (FEDO) with support from IDSN and Womankind. The report details the situation, challenges and recommendations within poverty, education, health, safety, political participation, Dalit women in the media and Dalit girl children in Nepal. It is clear from […]

Consultation: Action on caste discrimination is crucial for meeting the Global Goals

The National Consultation “Localizing SDGs through Dalit perspectives” drew together over eighty delegates from 15 states in India, to discuss ways forward to address caste and gender discrimination vis a vis the UN Global Goals. The consultation took place in New Delhi on 28th of January. IDSN participated in the consultation, organised by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights […]

Indian budget fails to deliver on allocations for the welfare of Dalits

The analysis highlights include: There is a continuing denial of Scheduled Castes (Dalits) & Scheduled Tribes (Adivasis) allocation thereby violating Government’s own norms set by the Niti Aayog There is a total Gap in allocation of Rs 1,22,998 Cr under SC budget and Rs 57,606 Cr. under ST Budget. Out of […]

IDSN takes part in a National Stakeholder Consultation on the UN UPR in Nepal

In 25 February the IDSN Membership Coordinator took part in the National Stakeholder Consultation on the UN UPR in Nepal, organised by IDSN members Dalit NGO Federation, Feminist Dalit Organization & Jagaran Media Centre together with IDSN Affiliate the Dalit Welfare Organisation  and over thirty other Dalit NGOs in Nepal. The Consultation highlighted the need to act on to […]

IDSN highlights rights violations against Dalits for the UN women’s committee review of Pakistan

IDSN submitted a report detailing the challenges faced by Dalit women and girls in Pakistan, for the review of the government’s report on compliance with the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW review), which took place Tuesday 11th February. An issue of major concern, highlighted in IDSN’s report, is that of […]

Press Release: European Parliament calls for an EU policy to address caste discrimination

January 16th 2020 — The International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) welcomes the adoption of the European Parliament’s annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2018 and the European Union’s policy on the matter. The European Parliament’s report notes “with great concern the scale and consequences of caste hierarchies, caste-based discrimination and the perpetuation of caste-based human rights violations, […]