#DalitWomenFight against Caste- – Based Violence
UN HRC 38 SIDE-EVENT
21 st June 2018, 12-13.30
Room XXVII, Palais de Nations, Geneva
This side event will explore and discuss aggravated caste-based violence faced by women and girls in India, often with little
recourse to justice. Dalit women activists will present witness accounts of the state of affairs in India and a panel of experts
will respond to the testimonies. The event aims to:
- Provide participants with insight into the state of caste-based violence against Dalit women in India
- Find recommendations for policy and implementation within the UN and beyond
- Forge new alliances and partnerships and agree on international level strategies to help fight caste-based violence and impunity in India
Programme
- Screening of a video on caste-based violence in India and release of a report on the status of Dalit women in India.
- Presentation by:
- Ms. Asha Kowtal, General Secretary of the All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM)
- Dalit women activists from India share their testimonies of aggravated caste-based violence and impunity in India
- A panel of experts respond to the testimonies and offer recommendations on ways to take the fight for justice forward in the UN system and beyond. The expert panel includes:
- Ms. Rita Isazk- – Ndiaye, Member of the UN CERD Committee
- Ms. Dubravka Šimonović, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
- Ms. Jane Gordon, Legal Director, Sisters for Change
- Ms. Vrinda Grover – Senior Advocate Supreme Court of India (via Skype)
- Moderator: Mr. John Fisher, Geneva Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
Sponsored by
- Human Rights Watch (HRW)
- International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
- Minority Rights Group (MRG)
- Anti-Slavery International
- FORUM-ASIA
- Franciscans International (FI)
Supported by
- The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN)
