UN overrides India’s protest, appoints Special Rapporteurs to study Dalit situation in India

New Delhi – The United Nations has passed a resolution in its 61st UN session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, to study the condition of dalits or low caste people in India and other parts of the world and to recommend ways to improve their socio–economic status.

As per the resolution adopted under “Discrimination based on Work and Descent,” two Special Rapporteurs – Yozo Yokota of Japan and Chin–Sung Chung of South Korea – have been appointed to study issues that confront the dalit population for the next three years.

The UN officials will interact with governments, voluntary groups, national institutions and communities to prepare a report that will recommend measures to improve the situation of dalits.

Dalits are found mostly in India, an estimated 170 million of them, due to caste system inherent in the majority Hindu community. However, discrimination against dalits is also found in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, and many African countries. They are also some ex–slave communities in Latin American countries who are discriminated due to their work and descent.

There was no voting on the resolution at the UN meeting and it was passed with consensus. India had earlier opposed all resolutions on dalits at the UN saying the country has been taking affirmative actions to eliminate caste–based prejudices, and there was no need for the international community to intervene.

Rights groups have welcomed the UN resolution, saying that it would help “the suppressed dalit community” be at par with others.

“This is a victory for our struggle for equality and human rights to everyone in the world. I am sure the UN study would considerably help bring a solution to the pathetic problems that dalits face especially in a country like India,” said Rikke Nohrlind of the International Dalit Solidarity Network.

Umakant of National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights said Dalits who converted to Islam and Christianity in India are still largely discriminated.

“There are separate mosques and churches for dalit Muslims and Christians respectively,” Umakant said.

“We will include them in the UN study,” he said, "And, urge the government of India to cooperate with the UN in preparing this report."