CDWD across the globe
Publications
Our publications have become the one-stop destination for all news and information related to the CDWD across the globe. All publications uploaded here are the property of GFOD unless specified otherwise. All our reports are free to download and will always remain so.
CDWD at UN
Representing the CDWD at the United Nations is vital for ensuring their voices are heard globally. It promotes inclusivity, influences international policy, highlights injustices, fosters global solidarity, and drives equitable development. This representation is crucial for advocating basic human rights, securing funding, and empowering CDWD to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) and access to human rights.
Infographics
At GFOD, we believe information must be disseminated via as many mediums as possible. Our infographics section crunches information from multiple sources and presents them in a data-friendly format. Click on the infographics to learn more about CDWD across the globe.
SDGs
Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) encounter substantial barriers that impede their full participation in society and limit their access to economic, social, and political opportunities. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a global framework to tackle these obstacles and promote inclusive development.
CDWD on Ground
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Mali criminalises slavery by descent in landmark legal reform
In a historic step for human rights of Communities Discriminated in Work and Descent (CDWD), Mali has officially outlawed slavery by descent through a sweeping reform of its Penal Code. On December 14, 2024, the National Transition Council approved amendments to the Penal Code that explicitly criminalise slavery and related practices, including descent-based slavery—marking a…
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Historic address at ECOSOC Youth Forum: Naveen Gautam elevates voices of marginalised youth
At the 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum, history was made when Naveen Gautam, representing the Stakeholders Group of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) Youth Constituency, took the stage as the first Dalit youth leader to moderate a plenary session at the United Nations. His powerful remarks, delivered at the session titled “Social Development: Youth…
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Empowering CDWD Communities in Africa: Reflections from the International Conference
The International Conference on Empowering Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) in Africa convened on April 3, 2025, bringing together activists, academics, legal experts, and community representatives from across the continent. The gathering focused on the urgent need to address entrenched discrimination faced by marginalized groups across Africa—particularly those impacted by caste-like systems, descent-based…
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The Critical Role of the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls in Advancing Roma Women’s rights
The 2025 UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development convened under the theme “Advancing Sustainable, Inclusive, Science- and Evidence-based Solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs in the ECE region, Leaving No One Behind.” The Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent organized a side event focusing specifically on SDG5…
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Rights Expert calls for recognition, inclusion of CDWD at Commission of Status of Women meeting
Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) rights expert Maria Atanasova spoke at the CSW69 Official Meeting: Interactive dialogue – Participation, accountability and gender-responsive institutions. Atanasova, a Roma woman representing the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent, delivered a powerful speech calling for greater recognition and inclusion of marginalized communities at the…
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‘Supreme Court of India’s verdict protects rights of CDWD in Modern Economy’
On Friday, the Supreme Court of India, the country’s Apex court, dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Government of Maharashtra, one of the largest states in India, upholding a landmark judgment by the Bombay High Court. This judgment recognized intellectual property damage as compensable under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention…
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India: Dalit researchers win landmark Intellectual Property Compensation in atrocity case
New Delhi: One of the biggest challenges faced by Communities Discriminated by Work and Descent is recognition of their efforts and acknowledgement of their work as intellectual property. This makes it much more difficult for CDWD to not only get due recognition but also receive adequate compensation for their hard work. However, a landmark judgement…
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Friends of CDWD: Advancing dialogue and action on Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent
World leaders gathered in New York from September 22-26, 2024, to discuss and adopt a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. The Pact covers several themes such as peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth, and the transformation of…
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The fight is legal: Ephraim Ogwu wants Africa CDWD to learn the importance of legal advocacy
This is the third in a three-part interview series with Ephraim Ogwu. Read part one and part two here. Ephraim Ogwu’s journey as an advocate for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) in Africa has been deeply informed by the lessons learned from other African communities facing similar struggles. “Intersectionality in advocacy is crucial,”…
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Collective Power: Why Ephraim Ogwu believes Africa CDWD must work together
In the first part, we talked about Ephraim Ogwu’s earliest experiences, how social segregation continues even today, and the lessons he learnt during his journey as a CDWD activist. In the second of the three-part series, he talks about learning from other African communities, the intersectionality in advocacy and the lack of international attention In…
Understanding Discrimination Based on Work & Descent
Discrimination based on work and descent is any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on inherited status such as caste, including present or ancestral occupation, family, community or social origin, name, birth place, place of residence, dialect and accent that has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, or any other field of public life. This type of discrimination is typically associated with the notion of purity and pollution and practices of untouchability and is deeply rooted in societies and cultures where this discrimination is practiced.
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