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Yearly summary of accomplishments
| | "Racism and Castiesm discussed at the World Peace Forum" By Jai Birdi Chair, Ending Racism Casteism Working Group for World Peace Forum and Indira Prahst, Race and Ethnic Relations Instructor, Department of Sociology, Langara College.
The World Peace Forum held recently at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver provided an excellent opportunity to not only raise and debate issues related to peace and social justice, but it also provided a medium for diverse groups to come together, network, find common grounds and build bridges for achieving greater equality. One of the key plenary for the forum that attracted speakers and delegates from all diverse backgrounds was on ending racism and casteism not only on the Indian sub-continent, but also in countries outside of India. Examples of such discriminatory practices within the groups was highlighted by Judy Hanazawa who spoke about the practice of casteism in Japan and the Burakumin people; by Yogesh Verhade of the Ambedkar Center for Justice and Peace and Rajesh Angral of National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights spoke about the caste-based discrimination and Moussa Magassa of Africa working group spoke about Africa.
The forum was concluded with the recognition that we have more in common than our differences and the need to continue to forge bonds with diverse communities. Overall here was consensus that racism can only be resolved by attacking at its source on the evel of the mind, values and institutionally. This led to the passing of seven resolutions so we can move forward towards a concrete action plan for greater justice:
1. We reject systems of discrimination based on hate including racism and casteism .
2. We advocate for a just redress for the Chinese Head tax and the Komagata Maru.
3. In the post 9-11 climate, we strive for justice and civil liberties for immigrants and refugees
4. We resolve to break the cycle of fear, ignorance, and internalized racism and casteism that are reproduced by systemic and institutionalized racism
5. We resolve to advocate for equal access to services such as health care and pensions (Old Age Pension for all Canadians regardless of race or what the country the senior has migrated from.
6. We advocate for greater monitoring of media, the music, and the popular culture to ensure that the content to any cultural, racial, or caste group is not derogatory and does not harm the dignity of marginalized groups.
7. We resolve to build on the dialogue that is started at the plenary and further develop strategies by organizing a national or international forum focused on racial and internalized discrimination. | 7/28/2006 | | | ACJP joined hands with Anti-Hindu fundamentalist forces to stop the manipulation of India's history, that is taught to Grade 6 children in California, USA. Hindu American Foundation and Vedic Foundation wanted to erase the true history of India and Hinduism by removing the statements on Caste System, practice of Untouchability, Women's degradation, equating caste with class etc.,. Many international professors on Ideology also opposed the move. ACJP worked very hard for proper representation through ACJP California Chapter member-Activists Mohan Gill, HansRaj Kajla, RamaKrishna Bhupati, and other 10 members to present the true picture of Caste System and practice of Untouchability. It shocked the CA Board Members to learn first hand the realities of practise of Untouchability. CNN/60 Minutes documentary on Untouchables played a very important role in educating the CA Board Members. The First Presentation was done on 12th January 06 and second took place on 27th Jan.06.
Finally, the Board voted 5-to-nil in favour of retaining original text and threw out all the objections of Hindutva-vadi groups.This was a great historical event. THIS STOPS THE MANIPULATION OF INDIAN HISTORY BY HINDU FUNDAMENTALIST FORCES AS THEY TRIED TO DO IN INDIA. At least the USA is alert and fair. | 2/28/2006 | | | The "World Summit on the Information Society" was held recognizing the revolution in Information and Telecommunication world; and how this revolution has fundamentally changed the way people think, behave, communicate, and earn their living. This world summit was held in two phases. The first summit took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second summit was held in Tunis, Tunisia from 16 to 18 November 2005.
We as a Non-Government Organization participated in this summit. This summit was important to us since it was focusing largely on the issues of public concern, drew high level of political participation, including the Heads of States and Governments and provided a forum to discuss our issues, internationally. These kind of discussions with government and non-government organizations makes people aware not only the developments of a country but also, of the problems prevailing, sometimes even getting a helping hand to solve issues specific to one country.
Yogesh Varhade, Pankaj Meshram, Smitha Dandge, and Niranjan Waghmare attended the summit. The main focus of this summit from our group was to make other governments and private organizations aware of the practice of "Racism due to birth" that has been prevalent in India for thousands of years. Efforts were made to make organizations empathize with the most marginalized and tribal people, and provide solutions using Information and Communication Technologies to help uplift their economic conditions. Recommendations were made by ACJP on how e-learning can be an easy solution, to solve the problem of illiteracy amongst the indigenous people, who account to 90-95% of the illiteracy rate and teach them few simple e-business technologies thereby, uplifting their economic conditions as well.
A great deal of encouragement was received by many government and non-government organizations to support our movement. I hereby, request you all to unite and help us to make this movement, which was dreamt by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar more than 50 years ago, a reality. | 11/18/2005 | | | UN Conference on Interfaith Co-operation and Peace took place on 22nd June 2005 at New York
The Committee of Religious NGOs at United Nations, Governments, and civil society was invited to participate. Mr. Giadominco Picco, (Italy), Personal Representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the Dialogues among Civilizations was the Chair. Governments and all religious leaders around the world had participated. Here is the extract of ACJP Intervention: "I am Yogesh Varhade, Founder-President, Ambedkar Centre for Justice and Peace, based in North America with Global Chapters and focused on South Asia. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving me this opportunity. I am very pleased to see you again. We met previously at Princeton University during the conference on Dialogue among Civilizations. Every religion and faith should be based on equality, fraternity, compassion, liberty, peace and social justice for its followers which in turn, brings message of peace to its neighbors. Whereas, if a religion is based on the belief that " All human beings are not born equal" then not only it is unable to enhance Interfaith Cooperation for sustainable peace but instead it promotes hatred and disunity among people. Unfortunately this is the reality of a dominant religion in South Asia where 75% of its population is forced to believe and follow this inequality and hatred in spite of full equality in the Constitution of the nation. Because the will of the government is missing to implement the constitution in 1996 Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination(CERD) during a state party report, recommended (Article 31, document # CERD/C/304/Add.13, 17 September 1996) that India to start "continuing campaign to educate the Indian Population on human rights, in line with the Constitution of India and with the Universal Human Rights instruments; aimed at eliminating the institutionalized thinking of high-caste and low-caste mentality" This would have changed the thinking of millions of people to respect their fellow brothers and sisters but, unfortunately this is still not done even after 9 years. Therefore it is imperative that all faiths must abide by the UN fundamental Rights Instruments, nations constitutions then only PEACE will prevail. It is a high time that these faiths abide by these norms! There was lot of appreciation by clapping of hands at the end.
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- Participated in Prepcom2; World Summit on Information Society at Geneva and highlighted the need for human rights for all children to Information Technology through NGO Caucus on Internet and Human Rights.
- Held meetings with Senior Officials of the High Commissioner for Human Rights , Secretaries of the Treaty Bodies etc. to highlight the present tragic state of 500,000 people, mostly Dalits and marginalized , living on the streets whose bare survival have been in distress due to bulldozing their 120,000 hutments in Mumbai by State Government of Maharashtra.This is the violation of all fundamental rights instruments of UN by the State of Maharashtra and needed urgent action.
| | | | EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRL CHILD-CELEBRATING UN DECADE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE!
One week workshop to empower indigenous women and girl child -was organised at Nagpur to train women and men in social work -training the trainers-how to use their human rights through Indian Constitution and UN fundamental rights instruments, health and hygiene, child rights, self-defense course etc. A distinguished faculty of Professors from Nagpur Medical College and experts in law and order like Dr.U.N. Biswas, Yogesh Varhade had participated.
| | | | Human Rights Violations Report of 3 Dalit Women from District Shivani, Madhya Pradesh was prepared after first hand investigation by distinguished members Dr. U.N. Biswas (Ex-Additional Director-CBI), Lawyer Barmate (Shivani), Engr. Tembhare (Shivani), Yogesh Varhade (GlobalPresident ACJP), Nagsen Sonare (President, ACJP-India) Jagesh Somkuwar (Asst. Sudt. Engr.) etc.,. Three Dalit Women were gang-raped by 30 members of backward GAWALI caste on the grounds that Dalit teenager fell in love with Gawali daughter which broke the rules of traditional caste hierarchy. More than half of culprits were at large. Case is pending in the court.
| | | | World Conference on Human Rights Education
Human Rights for All! was hosted at Mumbai University Campus at Kalina by ACJP-India in collaboration with ACJP Global Centre. Very distinguished (rtd.) Supreme Court-Justices like Dr. Ramaswamy, Justice P.B. Sawant, High Court Justices , Justice Suresh, Chairman, Maharashtra Human Rights Commission, Justice Anant Mane, Justice Kolse-Patil, Vice-Chancellor Dr. B.Mungekar, Senior IAS Officers and Civil Society had participated for 3 days. There was tremendous enthusiasm among young Dalit Intellectuals. | | | |
- In March 2004 Founder-President Mr. Varhade was invited to give a talk on "Dalits and caste system" to Canadians who had participated in World Social Forum in Mumbai (Bombay), India. Toronto Sociael Forum has been formed to continue the work of WSF in Mumbai and major Canadian NGOs are a part of this forum. CNN 13 minute Documentary "The Untouchables", released first in March 1999, was shown . It was an eye-opener for many Canadians.
- In February 2004, ACJP was invited to participate in Human Rights Consultations in OTTAWA, Canada.
Mr. Varhade had the opportunity to discuss with Foreign Minister of Canada, Hon'ble Bill Graham, South Asia Director.
- Policy Departmnt Deputy Director and CIDA about Dalit Issue. Canada has agreed to study the matter further for her proactive role.
- ACJP also met with some of the MPs in Ottawa and in Toronto who support the mission.
| | | | In May 2003 ACJP was invited to participate in World Bank organised watchdog forum where many experts from Asia participated including India. President Mr. Varhade had the opportunity to highlight the present condition of destitution, dehumanization, child labor, bonded labor suffered by more than quarter billion population of South Asia known as Dalits and how these International Financial Institutions can help to eradicate these ills of society and help India to be a stronger democracy. | | | |
- In July-August 2002 a delegation of ACJP was invited to participate in United Nations Sub-Commission and Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), a UN Treaty Body's "Thematic Discussion on Descent based Discrimination".
- In fact it was ACJP's pioneering work in CERD in 1996 during India's Report Discussion that started a Debate in the United Nations on Caste System and its negative impact on India and South Asia.
- This was responsible to highlight Dalit Issue in "World Conference Against Racism 2001 in Durban, South Africa".
- The recommendations of CERD are on our website for the information of the readers and we encourage them to study these far reaching recommendations.
- ACJP Delegation had a special meeting with Madam Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights along with Ven. Shurai Sasai, India on BodhGaya Issue and also participated in Working Group on Indigenous Populations.
- ACJP delegation with Ven. Shurai Sasai also traveled to Paris and had a meeting with UNESCO Director General Office regarding the problems at Buddhist Holy place, BodhGaya Temple, where Lord Buddha was enlightened. It was in June 2002 declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
- In December ACJP delegation had a meeting with Director of South Asia Division, Ottawa, Canada.
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- In Aug.-Sept. 2001 ACJP Delegation, under President Mr. Varhade, consisting of (Global Chapters) Directors participated in WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM held in Durban, South Africa.
- Descent-based Discrimination was a major issue at Durban and ACJP members were quite successful in lobbying at Durban with Swiss , Canada, Norway, EU, Delegates.
- Para 73 which deals with the "Descent-based Discrimination" was proposed by Swiss delegation and approved by Prepcom 3 Delegates in Geneva to be included in the final draft was dropped at the last minute due to shortage of time for discussion. Readers are encouraged to go through ACJP Press Release of 2001 on this website.
- In Feb.-March 2001 Mr. Varhade toured Gujarat Earthquake area with local Dalit leader, Mr. ValajiBhai Patel, and held meeting with Canada, USA, Holland, Sweden Embassy Representatives for extending their help to Dalit victims of Gujrat.
Convention on the Rights of Child
- January : Participated in UN Committee on Rights of the Child proceedings during State Party India Report. Distinguished Experts of the Committee accepted most of our recommendations to be a part of the concluding observations. Please refer also to Summary Records 589, 590 and 591 which discuss the question / answers between the committee experts and delegation of India on the Issue of Caste System, practice of Untouchability, Child Labour, Bonded Labour, Child Prostitution (Devadasi System), Compulsory Education etc.
- May : Participated in UN Prepcom (World Conference on Racism - WCR) in Geneva to highlight the destitution and discrimination of 250 million Dalits and the need to discuss this racism in World Conference on Racism to be held in South Africa in September 2001.
- September : Was invited to chair the Human Rights Forum of the Dalit International Conference organized by VODI (Voice of Dalits International), London, UK. The London declaration was drafted by ACJP and it was accepted unanimously.
- March : Lobbied at Secretary of State, USA (Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia - Mr. Inderfurth) office for forth coming visit of President Clinton to India and the need for implementation of constitutional provisions for the most marginalized sections-the Dalits of India. Also lobbied at the Senate and US Congress. Many distinguished senators and congressmen showed empathy towards this issue. (Correspondence)
- Committee on Women's Rights discussed the India Report and concluding observations were released in the month of March and Press Release.
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- June : Participated as NGO in UN Committee on Rights of the Child proceedings during State Party Report - India and submitted the report on 110 million child labourers mostly from untouchables and tribals, the impact of the caste system on the child labours and perpetuation of the system.
- June : Met World Health Organization (WHO) representatives of Dr. Brundtland, Director-General of WHO and showed the 15 minutes documentary on "UNTOUCHABLES" released by CNN / CBS 60 minutes on 21st of March, 1999 to enlighten them on the survival of millions of untouchables in most unhygienic conditions in India.
- June : Also met the representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO) - South Asia Division and discussed the problems of child labor, bonded labour and child prostitution in India.
- Canadian Foreign Minister, Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, had finally taken the Dalit issue seriously after many representations through the M.P.'s of Canada and agreed to look in to it.
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- Participated in UN Commission on Social Development (Eradication of Poverty) as NGO and lobbied for the attention of the commission members to address the marginalization and destitution of quarter billion population known as "DALITS" of India.
- Hosted a conference on Human Rights of Dalits..Theme "Caste System, Practice of Untouchability and Role of United Nations and Civil Society" at Toronto, Canada in June 1998.
- The distinguished expert of the Committee on Human Rights, Mr. Martin Scheinin of Finland delivered the key note address :
"International organizations, international treaties and international procedures are important in drawing the attention of the international community to grievances and violations of human rights. Sometimes, international procedures can provide access to justice for individuals and groups. More often, however, whatever happens on the level of international organizations must be complemented by action of civil society operators before it affects true life situations. But for the work of non-governmental organizations and other civil society operators, the UN human rights machinery can be of tremendous help. International human rights treaties eastablish the standard against which a government can be held accountable, both internationally and domestically. Procedures before international human rights treaty bodies may establish the law by clarifying the application of the standards in a specific issue or individual case. And complaints procedures or special rapporteurs can be important in protecting vulnerable persons or groups from further violations of their rights simply by drawing attention to grievances."
- Prof. Sam Lanfranco, (Current) Chair of Department of Economics, Univ. of York, Toronto, Canada and Member of Advisory Board of ACJP, said :
"Developments in the areas of information and communication technology (ICT) have created a new electronic venue which is being used as a virtual workspace for individuals, groups and communities, and as a virtual electronic arena which extends the scope and scale of various social processes. This virtual workspace and electronic social process arena are becoming increasingly important for both (a) international solidarity campaigns with regard to the plight of Dalits, and (b) the building of capacity for change at the grassroots level within the Dalit community.
The short presentation will sketch out how Dalit groups and their support and solidarity organizations are using email, electronic conferences and the resources of internal web sites to advance their cause and aid their struggle ....."
- Jane Jacobs, Distingushed author, Internationally well known Urban Historian and Advisory Board member of ACJP, said :
"How serious are the sufferings of these millions of women, children and men of South Asia due to caste system and practice of untouchability and ask the media to do its role to get the attention of the UN and Civil Society so that some day this tragedy may be a history" | | | |
- July - August : Participated in UN Committee on Human Rights (Civil and Political Rights) during the discussions of State Party Report - India. The committee experts understood the plight of Dalits for the violations of their civil and political rights and accepted most of our recommendations which were highlighted in the concluding observations of the Committee Report and the detailed discussions in the Summary Records 1603, 1604 and 1606.
- Prof. Glele-Ahanhonzo, Special Rapporteur on Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia was briefed on the situation of Dalits and need for investigation by UN. He had asked the host country to facilitate his visit to India.
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- Participated in the proceedings of the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) during the discussion of State Party Report - India. This was the first time senior UN Treaty Body was discussing the discrimination of 250 million untouchables and tribals due to caste system and practice of untouchability. All the experts had shown a great compassion and empathy to address this issue eventhough India denied that there was any racism.
- The discussions between Indian delegates and the committee experts are of great significance and the readers may find very important concluding observations of the CERD and the Summary Records 1161, 1162 and 1163. It is interesting to note that the experts had accepted all the recommendations of ACJP in their concluding observations.
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- Participated in the World Conference on Social Development (WSSD) at Copenhagen, Denmark, which was focused on eradication of poverty. (WSSD Report is attached)
- Article Published in the National New Paper POLITIKEN (March 7, 1995) of Denmark (English Translation attached)
- Prof. Ana Maria Quiroz, the board member from Chile, had participated in World Conference on Womens Rights in Beijing, China in 1995 and she helped the Dalit Women's group to publicize the statement on the rights of Dalit women. (Report and ACJP Press Release attached).
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- Participated in UN Working Group on Indigenous People (WGIP) and proposed the creation of human rights monitoring system within the mandate of WGIP for all Indigenous Peoples of the world including Dalits and Tribals of India.
- Participated in Sub Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities and did interventions during the debate on contemporary forms of slavery.
- We visited India and met the foreign government delegates including Canada, USA, Holland, Norway, Germany, Sweden etc. and briefed them the situation of Dalits.
- Hosted meetings with Dalit NGOs in major cities like Bombay, Nagpur, New Delhi, Bangalore, Madras etc. in India to network with them.
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- Was invited to participate, as a advisor and UN Representative of the Indigenous Peoples of India in UNWGIP, to celebrate the "Year of Indigenous People" held by the Indigenous Peoples of India Forum based in Bangalore.
- UN World Conference on Human Rights - Vienna, Austria, June 1996.
- Separate Workshop on Dalits were accepted as a part of the NGO input for the first time in the Dalit and UN history due to extensive lobbing by ACJP. This focused the attention of the world delegates participating in this event and many European countries showed solidarity with the Dalit Human Rights. Planery session of NGO had unanimously passed the Dalit declaration.
- ACJP participated in Bangkok Prepcom UN Meeting in March and succeeded in lobbing a very important NGO declaration statement in favor of Dalits to eradicate the practice of Untouchability as a crime against humanity ....... .
- Attended Canadian Human Rights Conference in Ottawa arranged by Canadian Government for the preparation of Prepcom and asked the Canadian delegates to help us for dismantling this Apartheid of South Asia.
- Attended UNESCO conference at Montreal and made many interventions on the issue of Dalits highlighting their plights.
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- Was invited to participate in the Dalit Solidarity Conference held at Nagpur, as a guest of WCC and to educate the participants regarding the internationalization of Dalit issue at UN.
- Participated in Working Group on Indigenous Population at Geneva and submitted documentation on Indigenous background of Dalits as well as highlighted their human rights violations.
- Was invited to participate in Dalit Conference organized by Swiss Church Aid Group at Basel, Switzerland in June and submitted the Dalit perspective for the liberation of Dalits.
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