Research and advocacy for realisation of the human rights for Dalits

Assessment of the Human Rights of Dalits in Reserved Panchayats in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu ** NEW

• See full report here   Detailed study on the socio economic status and human rights of Dalits

Dalit Women’s Rights of Political Participation in Rural Panchayati Raj: Access, Impact and Impunity

Equalinrights was approached in early 2006 by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Netherlands to develop an advocacy and research resource centre to advance the cause of the Dalit communities and others discriminated against on grounds of descent worldwide. Centered in core equalinrights goals, we took up the challenge!

In particular, this project seeks to redress the gap in systematically and scientifically gathered data on descent-based discrimination for advocacy work from the local to international levels. Our involvement, in addition to housing the resource centre itself, involves a research scan in 2007 on Dalit Women‘s Right of Political Participation in local governance (panchayati raj). This scan is conducted with IDEAS Institute, Madurai.

Research scan

This scan examines caste-class-gender discrimination, violence and impunity in access to and enjoyment of political participation by Dalit women in panchayati raj governance at all three tiers. It primarily focuses on Dalit women seeking to be elected and those women elected to panchayati raj institutions through reserved quotas (scheduled caste, general women and scheduled caste women). It examines how Dalit women access and participate in local governance in India, the struggles and impunity they face in their efforts, strategies the use to overcome these obstacles, and any impact of their participation. Impact looks at increased attention to critical livelihood needs of Dalit women and Dalits and more broadly at change in entrenched caste and gender discrimination.

The research process, including individual interviews, group interviews and surveys, took place between March and August this year, conducted by a team of 24 young Dalit women from local partner organisations in the two focus states: Navsarjan in Gujarat and EVIDENCE in Tamil Nadu. We have just completed a sharing and analysis session with all involved in the research process to analyse the trends emerging from the data and strategise on effective strategies to redress the struggles that have emerged. 

A report will be finalised and released in early 2008. This report will be used as an advocacy tool for follow-up activities on a state, national and international level.

Resource centre

During the research process, equalinrights gathered much data and documentation for the construction of a Dalit Resource Centre in the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights in Utrecht, The Netherlands. This resource centre will be open by October 2007. This will continue to grow and evolve with further focus studies, debates and exchanges.

Awareness raising activities in the Netherlands

In support of Dalit rights, equalinrights hosted a photo exhibition of the Dalit Network Netherlands “Dalit Lives” in November – December 2006. We held the exhibition opening on 22 November 2006 with over 30 people attending. It featured presentations by Ruth Manorama, 2006 recipient of the Rights Livelihood Award, and Jyothi Raj, Director of Rural Education for Development Society as well as DVD fragments of A Woman Apart – Fragments in the Life of Dalit Women. The speakers powerfully drew attention to the persistent and fundamental human rights violations that Dalit women confront daily in their lives. They evoked enormous inspiration in their courage, commitment and capacity to transform these realities, but called also for international awareness and support to help strengthen their efforts for change.

Finally, the equalinrights Coordinator co-chaired the open day of the Hague Conference on the Human Rights and Dignity of Dalit Women on 21 November 2006. This was one of a sequence of events organised over a week long period organised on behalf of the Dalit Network the Netherlands (DNN) and the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), by Justitia et Pax, CMC and Cordaid in the Netherlands.

The Conference provided a powerful and dynamic presentation of the horrific struggles of Dalit women and a call to action. It included a series of extraordinary testimonies by Dalit women, the release of a major study of 500 cases documenting violence against Dalit women in India and contributions by two United Nations special rapporteurs, Mr. Doudou Diène, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and Ms. Chin-Sung Chung, Special Rapporteur on discrimination on the basis of work and descent. The day culminated with the launch of a Declaration that, among other demands, urges governments of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well as the international community to support Dalit women in asserting their rights.

Organisations and resources

Formed in March 2000, the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) is a network of national solidarity networks, groups from affected countries and international organisations concerned about caste discrimination and similar forms of discrimination based on work and descent.

IDSN campaigns against caste-based discrimination, as experienced by the dalits of South Asia to the Buraku people of Japan, the sab (low caste) groups of  Somalia, the occupational caste people in West Africa and others. At the IDSN website you will find resources, videos and news on Dalit issues worldwide.

Other interesting websites are:

Dalit Network Netherlands

Justitia et Pax

Read also:

Report on the Conference on the Human Rights and Dignity of Dalit Women