Call for ending discrimination‚ recognising rights of Dalits
Nepal
KATHMANDU: On the occasion of International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the International Commission for Dalit Rights has appealed to international policy-makers to guarantee social justice, equality, inclusion.
ICDR also stressed that it was time to recognise the rights and dignity of nearly 300 million Dalit people worldwide, including Nepal. It called on the member states of the United Nations to endorse the ‘Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Elimination of Discrimination based on Work and Descent’ by the UN Human Rights Council.
The UN Principles and Guidelines constitute a strong tool to encourage specific anti-discrimination legislation and relevant policy measures for governments and their agencies, UN and other international agencies, educational institutions, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.
ICDR urged governments to step up efforts in strengthening law enforcement and institutional capacity as well as efforts to prevent the acts of violence and discrimination committed against Dalit men and women. Dalits from around the world have been victimised and discriminated against in social, political, economic, educational and religious areas of life, and they are excluded from mainstream development only on the basis of their caste, work or descent. Caste-based discrimination and violence undermines human rights, justice, dignity and humanity and affects personal growth. It raised the issue of a Nepali Dalit couple — Pravin Bohara (Sarki) and his bride — who have pardoned and exonerated those involved in ostracising them. They were barred from entering a temple in Pokhara-7 simply for being Dalits. Likewise, on March 3, six Dalit women — Sumari Devi Sada, Jahari Musahar, Somani Musahar, Shanti Musahar, Sona Musahar and Panchidevi Musahar — were thrashed by non-Dalit villagers for using a co
Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
