Dear Friends
Take a minute today or tomorrow to appeal for an end to caste discrimination!
We are forwarding the following urgent appeal from the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (India). We have been working with the NCDHR and other groups for the past year to have the caste issue included in the agenda of next month’s World Conference Against Racism in South Africa. This is the last opportunity to influence the government document for that conference. You can read the memorandum from the NCDHR and sign it online easily by going to the following website:
www.ahrchk.net/ua/caste
….or you can read below and follow the instructions for signing as described by the NCDHR.
Deadline for this action is tomorrow, 25th July 2001, so please read now.
Thank you for your action.
Urgent Appeals Desk
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LETTER FROM NCDHR:
Dear Friends and colleagues,
The Third Preparatory Committee to the WCAR is to be held from the 30th July to the 10th August 2001 in Geneva and three activists have been commissioned to attend the same by the NCDHR – namely, Mr. Paul Divakar, Mr. Aloysius Irudayam and Mr. Henri Tiphagne.
You have all been aware of the positions the NCDHR has taken from the time of the First Prep Com and systematically thereafter for the inclusion of the agenda of caste discrimination in the WCAR. Inspite of the fact that we had managed to get a small paragraph into the text on the last date of the Second Inter-sessional Working Group to the WCAR in Geneva on the 11th May 2001 through an intervention by Barabados, you are all aware that this para was found missing in the text that was circulated around for the Second Preparatory Committee meeting to the WCAR that commenced on 20th May 2001. Similarly, the small paragraph with reference to discrimination based on work and descent that was introduced by Switzerland and present throughout the Second Prep Com in the draft document has now disappeared in the draft prepared by the Group of 21 for consideration of the Third and Final Prep Com to the WCAR when the actual Negotiations would commence.
The Third Prep Com is therefore the only opportunity for the community of nations gathered to reconsider the question of discrimination based on work and descent know as caste discrimination.The NCDHR has therefore decided to attempt to touch the conscience of this World Community with a statement signed by eminent persons from throughout the world.
The proposal of the NCDHR therefore is as follows.
1. Please do find enclosed a memorandum that is addressed to the Chair and Member States that are going to be present at the Third Prep Com to the WCAR in Geneva from 30th July to 10th August 2001.
2. Kindly circulate this memorandum with as much speed as possible to as many eminent persons from any country who are known to you, requesting them to read the same and if they are in agreement with the same and would like to get their name on to the same, provide me the following .
3.They would have to provide us a consent by email addressed to: stating that they are in agreement that their name and designation is printed along with this memorandum and that they do not have any objection to the same being circulated to the representatives of the Member states in Geneva during the Third and Final Prep Com to the WCAR.
4. In view of the fact that we do not enough time and the fact that we could print the memorandum only after we receive your consent, may we request you to very kindly ensure that this written consent is provided by return email to the email address indicated above, so as to reach on or before 25th July 2001.
5. We assure you that the Memorandum that you sign would also finally be sent to you by email once it is finalised.
Kindly treat this as urgent and disseminate it in any form you want to as many people as possible, even if it has to be through any of your urgent appeal programs. But please do not forget that the purpose is to get as many signatories of eminent persons as possible from as many countries as possible to reach us before 25th July 2001, so that the printing of the memorandum and its despatch to Geneva could be facilitated.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
Martin Macwan (National Convenor – NCDHR)
Paul Divakar (Secretary International Advocacy – NCDHR)
Ruth Manorama (Core Committee Member – NCDHR)
Jyothi Raj (Core Committee Member – NCDHR)
Mimroth (Core Comittee Member – NCDHR)
Vincent J (Core Committee Member – NCDHR)
Pushpa Balmiki (Core Committee Member – NCDHR)
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THE MEMORANDUM:
AN URGENT APPEAL FROM EMINENT CITIZENS & HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
To
The Most Honble Chairperson & Members
Of the Third Preparatory Committee
To World Conference Against Racism (WCAR)
Dear Sir/ Madam,
The World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance has once again brought a new ray of hope for the millions from various parts of the world, who have been subjected to discrimination on grounds of race and caste that are inhuman, unjust and illegal, and are against the legal and moral standards set up by specific country legislations, Regional Human Rights Charters, UN Charter of Human Rights and the various UN Covenants and Conventions.
Massive Discrimination : In Numbers, Substance and Time
Dalits are the largest and most significant segment of the discriminated world population. That 260 million people in South Asia alone, perhaps more than the population of some of the European Countries, are systematically subjected to continuous discrimination based on descent and work should be a mind-boggling factor for any human being sensitive to human rights. Discriminated in multiple forms and in various aspects of life on grounds of work and descent, they ought to attract global attention, concern and commitment. That they have been humiliated by gross violations of their rights for centuries should at least now, though far belated, awaken world conscience – that of peoples and governments.
Inspite of five decades and more of Constitutional provisions proclaiming abolition and prohibition of such discrimination under country specific legislations in South Asian Countries, there is hardly any change today in their living conditions and in their right to live a dignified life. A 160 million of them live in India alone. For them the right to equality and freedom is still a mirage.
Shocking Developments and Our Deep Concern
In the context of the WCAR, the most shocking fact is that some nations which support the WCAR do not only deny the existence of discrimination based on work and descent but also apply various tactical measures in order to pressurize other nations to withdraw their statements – statements which ask for recognition of discrimination based on descent and work. This has been happening in recent weeks and months in spite of the fact that a good amount of progress has been made by the UN bodies to recognize and affirm unambiguously the existence of such discrimination.
The Dalit caucus is deeply concerned about the efforts of such nations to de-recognize discrimination based on work and descent. This, no doubt, is against the spirit of the WCAR. It is against the UN Charter in letter and spirit. It is against the conscience of humanity.
Irrefutable Evidence for Recognizing Discrimination
The following summary is a reflection of the progress enhanced towards recognition of such discrimination. It not only underlines the need for continued efforts but also makes it imperative for the III Prep Com to recognize and affirm discrimination based on work and descent.
I. Indias Constitutional and International Commitment: Recognizes & Prohibits Discrimination, including caste discrimination and untouchability practices
1. In the Chapter on Fundamental Rights, the Constitution of India takes a strong position upholding equality and against any form of discrimination (Art.14) More importantly, it is emphatic about doing away with caste discrimination (Art. 15 & 16), and more significantly its unambiguous commitment to abolish the discriminatory practice of untouchability against the Dalits is very pronounced (Art. 17).
2. In keeping with its Constitutional mandate India has ratified ICERD, ICCPR, ICESCR, CEDAW and various ILO Conventions which contain provisions against discrimination.
3. The Indian position that “Caste Discrimination is not Racial Discrimination?was clearly responded to by CERD: The Committee affirms that the situation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes falls within the scope of the Convention” (Concluding Observations of CERD : India 17/09/96)
4. India has, in fact, accepted the practice of discrimination towards Dalits by saying “that a practice that is so old cannot be eliminated rapidly”. (CERD/C/304/Add.13, Sept. 17, 1996).
II. UN Treaty Bodies: Recognition of and Pronounced Position on Discrimination against Dalits
5. Various UN bodies have verified and affirmed the existence of discrimination towards Scheduled Castes (that is, Dalits):
– “The Committee notes with concern that, despite measures taken by the Government, members of Scheduled Castes….continue to endure severe social discrimination and to suffer disproportionately from many violations of their rights under the Covenant, inter alia, inter-caste, violence, bonded labour and discrimination of all kinds. It regrets that the de facto perpetuation of the caste system entrenches social differences and contributes to these violations.” (Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee : India . 04/08/97. CCPR/C/ 79/Add.81)
– “The Committee is concerned with the continuing discrimination, including violence suffered by women of the Dalit community, despite the passage of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989” (Concluding Observations of the CEDAW: India. 01/02/2000. A/55/38, Para .74)
– “The Committee urges the Government to enforce laws preventing discrimination against Dalit Women and prohibiting the ‘Devadasi’ system. It urges the Government to introduce affirmative action programmes in such areas as education, employment and health so as to provide life chances to Dalit women and girls and create an environment conducive to their progress. The Committee calls upon the Government to set a time-frame for these interventions and provide information on the progress made in the next report.” (Concluding Observations of the CEDAW: India 01/02/2000. A /55/38, Para 75).
– “The Committee is concerned with the continuing discrimination, including violence suffered by women of Dalit community, despite the passage of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989” (CEDAW/C/2000/1/CRP. 3/Add.Dt.31.04.2000)
III. National Institutions and Leaders: Confirm Existence Today of Discrimination against Dalits.
6. The existence of discrimination towards Dalits has been recognized by various national bodies in India and by the National leaders. To quote only a few:
– “It is a matter of great concern and regret that in our society, its weakest and vulnerable segments continue to suffer from discrimination, exploitation and atrocities. Despite provisions for removal of disabilities and discrimination against the Scheduled Castes….provided in the Constitution of India, incidents of atrocities on members of the Scheduled Castes…..continue to be reported from all parts of the country in varying numbers…..Data (as per NCRB) indicate that, even after 50 years of Independence untouchability has not been abolished as provided in Article 17 of the Constitution and incidents continue to be reported….In many cases instead of physical?untouchability, there are instances of mental and social distancing”. (National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Fourth Report, 1996-97 & 1997-98, Vol. I., pp. 231 & 232)
– “The Commission considers it deeply offensive to human dignity that the degrading practice requiring the manual handling of night soil is still allowed in our country, 50 years after Independence. Despite the launching of a nationwide scheme in March 1992 to free those engaged in such work, and to rehabilitate them in other occupations, implementation has remained dismal. (Annual Report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) quoted in the Written Statement submitted to the UN Secretary General by the Commission of the Churches of International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, dated 21 January 2000)
– “The Dalits are in different stages of socio-economic development and are engaged in divergent forms of work for their living. The practice of such traditional unclean occupations as scavenging, carrying night soil, removing dead animals, leather work, beating of drums, etc. gave them a low position in the traditional caste hierarchy and they are viewed as occupying the lowest rung of the social ladder. The vast majority of Dalits are landless and work as agricultural labourers and wage earners to work out their livelihood. Dependence on upper class land owners for agricultural labour and perpetual subjugation, force many of the to live as bonded labourers….The condition of the Dalit women in particular is deplorable. They are doubly underprivileged, being women and belonging to a Schedule Caste. They constitute the major work force doing hard manual labour and engage in agricultural operations and their exposure to outdoor work and interaction with cunning employers make them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Abject poverty forces Dalit women to become Devadasi?the prevalent institutionalized prostitution system.” (Mr. H. Hanumanthappa, Former Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, quoted in the written Statement submitted to the UN Secretary General by the Commissioner of the Churches, on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, dated 21 January 2000)
– “Untouchability has been abolished by the law but the shades of it remain in the ingrained attitude nurtured by the caste system. Though the provisions of reservation in educational institutions and public services flow from our constitution these provisions remain unfulfilled through bureaucratic and administrative deformation or by narrow interpretations of these special provisions. . . It is forgotten that these benefits are provided not in a way of charity but as human rights.”
An Urgent Appeal
10. We, the undersigned, Eminent Citizens and Human Rights Defenders, therefore, urge the Chair and Members of the 3rd Preparatory Conference to the WCAR to reinsert the following language into the Draft Declaration and Programme of Action as a separate section under Chapter X: Disadvantaged Groups General/ Vulnerable Groups.
“X. bis Discrimination on the Basis of Work and Descent
“New 130 bis: The World Conference affirms that discrimination on the basis of work and descent involves a complex and deeply entrenched obstacle to the realization of the civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of members of the affected communities, and that while most closely associated with caste systems in South Asia, this type of discrimination is encountered in other parts of the world as well. The World Conference therefore:
“(a) Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to undertake an in-depth study of the question of discrimination on the basis of work and descent in cooperation with the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;
“(b) Encourages Governments concerned to undertake public awareness raising and educational initiatives in order to promote positive changes in attitude towards and within communities discriminated against on the basis of work and descent;” (Barbados as on 11.05.01)
“New 109: To ensure that all necessary constitutional, legislative and administrative measures, including appropriate form of affirmative action, are in place to prohibit and redress discrimination on the basis of work and descent and that such measures are respected and implemented by all States authorities at all levels;” (Switzerland: 1.06.01)
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N.B. You can sign this Memorandum on-line at:
www.ahrchk.net/ua/caste
