The Indian Government has strongly opposed the inclusion of discrimination
on the basis of descent and work in the World Conference Against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
programme and is putting much pressure on other governments to
accede to its views. The Conference will be held in Durban, South
Africa from 31 August to 7 September.
Anti-Slavery staff joined the vigil organised by the Dalit Solidarity
Network and Voice of Dalits International outside the Indian High
Commission in London. Protests were also held in Chicago, Geneva,
Kathmandu, New York, Tel Aviv as well as Chennai, Delhi, and other
cities
around the world.
Dalits (untouchables), according to ancient Hindu scripture,
are to be
treated as slaves. As a result, they comprise a disproportionate
number
of bonded labourers in India, as well as in Pakistan and Nepal.
Because of
their position they experience discrimination in all aspects of
life: they
are prevented from equal access to education, paid work, religious
rites as
well as from development programmes.
Despite the existence of laws prohibiting caste discrimination
in India,
the evidence of daily atrocities against them, including murder,
torture by
the police, rape in custody and other violence, clearly demonstrates
the
laws are not enforced.
The Indian Government claims caste discrimination is a religious
and
cultural issue and has no place in a conference on racism and
related
intolerance.
