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UN treaty bodies and IDSN The UN monitors the implementation of the core international treaties through well-established human rights mechanisms, the so-called "treaty bodies". These bodies are different from charter-based bodies such as the Human Rights Council and the Special Procedures because they are established directly under international treaties as opposed to bodies created under the UN Charter. Independent expert members of these bodies regularly examine how States Parties fulfill their obligations under international law based on a reporting cycle, where NGOs are also invited to give their inputs on the performance of the state. Click here to read more about the UN treaty bodies on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. IDSN is actively engaged in human rights monitoring in caste-affected countries. IDSN has facilitated a number of interventions on behalf of members and associates of the network in the UN with significant impact; due to strategic lobby interventions it is now general practise that treaty bodies consider caste-based discrimination when examining States Parties' human rights performance in countries of particular concern.IDSN follows which countries are up for review in relevant treaty bodies. In an overview of UN treaty body events it is possible to see when caste-affected countries are considered in UN treaty bodies in 2007-2008 and to access documentation from previous sessions. Examples of previous alternative reports submitted in association with IDSN can be found on the links below. INDIAUN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) The examination of India by the CESCR will take place on 7-8 May 2008 in Geneva. The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) has submitted an alternate report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on India's implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in association with IDSN and a large number of the other Indian organisations. A copy of the alternate report can be found on the link below, together with a link to CESCR's website where India's state report and the list of issues prepared by the Committee experts can be downloaded. Link to CESCR' website and List of issues UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) On March 9, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued its Concluding Observations regarding India’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Committee’s report found that “de facto segregation of Dalits persists” and highlighted systematic abuse against Dalits including torture and extrajudicial killings, an “alarming” extent of sexual violence against Dalit women, and caste discrimination in post-tsunami relief. The Committee called for effective measures to implement laws on discrimination and affirmative action, and sought proper protection for Dalits and tribal communities against acts of “discrimination and violence.” The Committee has given India a year to respond to four of its recommendations, including its recommendations on how India can end widespread impunity for violence against Dalits, and Dalit women in particular. “The UN Committee’s concluding observations confirm that India has failed to properly protect Dalits and tribal communities,” said Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch. “This is a prime opportunity for India to give its own policies on discrimination some meaning. Laws need to be implemented, and those who violate them must be prosecuted.” During the review of India's report on February 23 and 26, the CERD country rapporteur Mr. Sicilianos and other members of the Committee expressed their regret that the Indian delegation was unwilling to engage with the experts of the Commmittee on the issue of caste discrimination and the widespread human rights violations against Dalit communities, which is vastly documented in NGO shadow reports as well as by official Indian sources, such as the National Human Rights Commission. Reports and press statements: Shadow reports to the joint Fifteenth to Nineteenth Periodic Report of the
Republic of India on CERD • United Nations press release on the CERD reveiw of India NEPALUN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) examined Nepal's second periodic report on 1-2 May 2007. While the Committee welcomed the measures taken by the State Party to abolish discrimination based on caste in the Interim Constitution of Nepal, it expressed concern about the absence of detailed data disaggregated by caste, and of the denial of access to e.g. public wells. In particular, the Committee stated that it "notes with concern that, in spite of the provisions in the Interim Constitution prohibiting caste-based discrimination, such discrimination persists with impunity. The Committee is particularly concerned about the obstacles that victims of caste-based discrimination reportedly face in accessing justice." NGO alternative report by Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Committee (HRTMCC) UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) In November 2005 Nepal was reviewed by the Committee Against Torture. UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) In March 2004 Nepal was reviewed by CERD. Two shadow reports to the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Periodic Report of Government on ICERD were prepared by civil society. Both reports can be downloaded here: Report by HRTMCC, The Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Co-ordinating Committe Report by Asian Human Rigths Commission and Asian Legal Resource Centre Read the Concluding Observations
YEMEN UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) CERD concluding observations on Yemen, 2006 NIGERIA UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) CERD consideration of Nigeria's periodic state report
Link to CERD's website
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