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Press Release
In the closing minutes of the III Preparatory Committee
meeting at Geneva on 10.8.2001, discussing the agenda to be
finalised for the World Conference Against Racism, the Chair of
the Working Group on Programme of Action ruled that the much
disputed Para No. 109, is on in the agenda of the WCAR. The Chair
also ruled that this Para goes unbraketed to the WCAR at Durban.
This is the only Para pertaining to Caste discrimination which
had been intensely lobbied for intensely by many Dalit groups
from Asia as well as other Human Rights organisations all over
the world. Indian Govt. campaigned hard to keep this Para out of
the agenda of WCAR and also the declaration and programme of
Action.
This is a historic moment for the Dalit activists and other HR
organisations in solidarity with the Dalit cause as for the first
time this issue has been raised at this level in the government
discussion and held a global debate.
Para 109
"To ensure that all necessary constitutional, legislative
and administrative measures including appropriate form of
affirmative action are in place to prohibit and redress
discrimination on the basis of work and descent and that such
measures are respective and implemented by all states authorities
at all levels"
This pertains to discrimination on the basis of Caste being
practiced against the Dalits in South Asia, Burakumin in Japan,
Osu in Nigeria and other similarly discriminated castes in
Senegal and Southern Mauritania.
Another historic event has occurred in the Sub Commission
yesterday and today (9 and 10 of Aug) wherein the report of
Goonesekere (Sri Lanka) on the Work and Descent was also
discussed and debated hotly for more than 3 hours.
Mr. Goonasekare gave a very detailed report on his study about
discrimination based on descent and occupation. Covering the
practice in various countries he focused much of his data on
India. Although he had requested the ambassador form India to
give him date, none came from the government and he got much of
his data from SC/ST Reports, Documents prepared by the NCDHR,
cases from the National Public Hearing and victims reports from
the Global Conference Against Racism. He made a strong case for
further study in the area and measures to be taken.
Mrs. Savithri Kunadini, the Indian representative at the
Sub-commission observed that India has been targeted in the
report and while India has endorsed the many efforts of the
sub-commission, she is sorry that her country cannot support this
and the subcommission should spent its energy on other issues.
Most countries supported Mr. Goonasekare that the issue should
be dealt from a global human rights perspective and commented him
on his reporting. A few countries felt that the WCAR should stick
with the race issues and not divert it.
WCAR -Durban
The Conference at Durban has two parts. The first is the NGO
conference from 27th August to 2nd September and the
Intergovernmental meet from 31st August to 7th September. About
160 participants from all over the country, who have been working
on caste and discrimination issues are participating in these
meetings at Durban. It is a historic meet as this is the first
time that the issue of discrimination against Dalits have become
a global issue. Though India has been a champion of Human rights
issues globally and at the UN, it has not concerned itself on the
issue of Dalit discrimination and beyond has been blocking it
ever since Dalit activists have raised it.
At the World conference we hope to be able to lobby Human
rights organisations and instruments to recognise discrimination
based on descent and work, which covers caste in its basic form.
We recognise the need for an all out effort within the country by
the media, civil society and the government to remove this
scourge from our society. We certainly are not expecting people
to give up their caste identity but that the inequality,
discrimination and humiliation of Dalits are eliminated and
Dalits enjoy equality, dignity and justice. We hope the raising
of the Dalit issue at the international UN forum will strengthen
India in taking the steps to overcome caste discrimination
against a fifth of its population.
Pre-Durban National Conference - ' People's Forum Against
Racism and Discrimination"
A Pre-Durban National Conference ' People's Forum Against Racism
and Discrimination" is being held at Hyderabad from the 13th
to 15th August. All members who are participating at the Durban
Conference from across the country have been invited to the same
for an orientation-planning -training session on how best to
synergies our functions at the WCAR. The meet is being organised
by National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and we expect about
200 members from across the country.
The meet opens with a public meeting on the 13th at Sundarayya
Vigyan Kendra where Members of Parliament, academicians,
activists and other movement and civil society leaders will
address the public meeting. Over a hundred Dapper will inaugurate
and herald the meeting. The participants will spend the next two
days at NISIET where they will be familiarised with UN
mechanisms, the process of the WCAR, the organising of the NGO
and the inter-governmental meetings and how they could best
participate, educate civil and human rights organisations that
come and lobby the government.
On Behalf of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights
N. Paul Divakar
Posted on 2001-08-13
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