United Nations has passed a resolution to study the situation of Dalits -- low caste Hindus -- across the world, including India, and suggest ways to improve their socio-cultural status in the society.
Rights groups have welcomed this resolution and urged all countries, especially India, to cooperate with the UN in helping raise the "suppressed community" on par with others. India is home to an estimated 170 million Dalits -- the largest in the world.
UN to monitor defamation of Islam
The resolution was passed under Agenda Item 14 that deals with "discrimination based on work and descent" at the ongoing 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland.
There was no voting on the subject and the resolution was passed with consensus on Tuesday. India has earlier been opposing 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 group to monitor abuses in Nepal
According to 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 the subject over a period of three years.
They will interact with the governments, voluntary groups, national institutions and the communities to prepare a report. The report -- to be submitted at the Commission -- will also advice governments on the measures required to improve the situation of Dalits.
Dalits are found mostly in India due to caste system inherent in the majority Hindu community. Discrimination against Dalits is found in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan, and many African countries.
They are some ex-slave communities in Latin American countries who are discriminated due to their work and descent.
Vincet Manoharan of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights said: "Dalits claim this as belated victory in the struggle for international recognition of our plight. We welcome the stance of the new government in India which did not oppose the resolution."
Rikke Nohrlind of the International Dalit Solidarity Network said that the problem was not only in India but other countries too and therefore required global attention.
She said the problem in India was more serious and the government should act on the 115-point recommendation made by the National Human Rights Commission in October last year.
"The UN resolution is good but not enough. We need more to fight this problem," she said. Asian Legal Resource Centre representative Tim Gill, who has been working in Nepal, said the Dalits have been treated badly in Nepal for thousands of years and due to lack of democracy in the Himalayan kingdom, the situation still remains to be worse.
"Nepal is a Hindu kingdom and caste system is a creation of Hindu religion. Therefore the problem is immense in the social structure (of Nepal),"he said.
Umakant of National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights said Dalits who converted to Islam and Christianity in India are still discriminated against. There are separate mosques and churches for Dalit Muslims and Christians.
"We will include them in talking with the UN's Special Rapporteurs. They should be included in the mainstream. We urge the government of India to cooperate with the UN in preparing this report."
© 2025