IDSN and the European Union
IDSN is raising awareness and promoting action in the EU, the European
Commission and the European Parliament on the issue of caste
discrimination.
In July 2001, the European Parliament urged "the EU and its Member States to voice
its concern regarding caste discrimination and to formulate
strategies to counter this widespread practice, which is
affecting 260 million people in India, in South Asia and
elsewhere.” In September 2003,the European Parliament adopted strong
recommendations for action
to address caste based discrimination to the EU Council,
Commission and member states.
IDSN sees the EU as uniquely placed to take a leading role in ending caste
discrimination through political dialogue with governments in
the countries concerned, programmatic action in its development
cooperation activities, and political action within the UN and
other international fora.
IDSN believes that more needs to be done on the issue of caste discrimination in
order that the EU complies with its own Human Rights Policy and
to give substance to the human rights clauses in its
co-operation agreements.
European Parliament adopts strong resolution on the human rights of the Dalits in India
On February 1st, the plenary of the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation of the Dalits in India.
The resolution acknowledges the existence of laws laws protecting the rights of Dalits, but notes that implementation of these laws remains grossly inadequate, and that atrocities, untouchability, illiteracy, inequality of opportunity, manual scavenging, underpayment of wages, bonded labour, child labour and landlessness continue to blight the lives of India’s Dalits.
The Committee expressed its concern about the recurring refusal by the police to register and pursue cases of crimes committed against Dalits and the dismally low number of convictions of perpetrators for crimes against Dalits.
The Parliament calls on the European Commission and the European Council to:
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Raise the issue of caste discrimination during EU-India Summits and in other dialogues between EU and India, including on human rights and trade
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Include specific measures in EU development cooperation with India in order to close the wide gap between Dalits and the rest of the population regarding the attainment of the millenium development goals
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Give priority to the promotion of equal opportunities for Dalits in private EU based companies and encourage companies to implement the Ambedkar Principles against caste discrimination in employment
Read the full text of the resolution
The resolution was put forward by the Development Committee subsequent to a hearing on the situation of Dalits in India organised by the Committee in December 2006.
Click here to access the website of the European Parliament with summary of the hearing and the presentations made by Ruth Manorama and Paul Divakar
EP Development Committee hearing on the Human Rights of Dalits in India
On the 18 December 2006, a public hearing has been organised in the Development Committe of the European Parliament. Speakers will be Paul Divakar, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and Ruth Manorama, National Federation of Dalit Women, as well as representatives of the Indian Government. The Hearing will be chaired by Ms. Louisa Morgantini, Chair of the Development Committee and MEP Ms. Margrete Auken is the rapporteur. A press meeting is organised after the hearing.