Addressing Caste-Based Hierarchies in Africa and Asia

As we continue striving toward caste-free societies, a landmark moment in 2024 was the adoption of a groundbreaking resolution by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This historic resolution on  PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE RIGHTS OF COMMUNITIES DISCRIMINATED BY, WORK AND DESCENT (CDWD) IN AFRICA – ACHPR/Res.619 (LXXXI) 2024 , was passed during the Commission’s 81st Ordinary Session in Banjul from October 17 to November 6, 2024, marks a significant step forward in the global fight against caste-based discrimination. 

The Commission while passing the resolution acknowledged the existence of caste based discrimination across Africa . The resolution reads that the commission is “….Alarmed by the persistence of discrimination based on work and descent nearly 40 years after the operationalization of the African Charter“…… “commits to conduct a continental study on the situation of communities discriminated against based on work and descent including underlying causes, manifestations, and impacts of discriminatory practices),…… to thoroughly examine discriminatory practices across the African region, and share the findings with States Party and relevant African Union organs and agencies…”

Taking the discussions forward, GFoD is inviting you to be part of the dialogue: Addressing Caste-Based Hierarchies in Africa and Asia. This dialogue aims to critically examine the ACHPR resolution and the presence of caste-based hierarchies across Asia, Africa, and globally. It will further explore diverse manifestations of descent-based historic and continuing discrimination, in wealth and asset ownership, formal and informal jobs, access to quality education and skill enhancement among other such means of social mobility and assess how this resolution can serve as a model for other regions—particularly in Asia, Africa, and globally—and identify strategies for advancing a UN Declaration to eradicate the present effects of historic and continuing discrimination. Additionally, the session will emphasize effective policy intervention by the state for redressing historic harm, combating contemporary discrimination, including reparations, compensation, budget allocations, affirmative action, and other policy mechanisms.

Panelist: Ms. Queen Bisseng,  Regional Coordinator, Africa,  GFoD, is a leading advocate for the rights of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) in Africa and played a vital role in the adoption of the African Commission’s resolution. Joining her as the second speaker is Mr. Paul Divakar Namala, Convener, GFoD, who has been at the forefront of the global CDWD movement. The session will be moderated by Prof. Amit Thorat, a distinguished scholar from the Center for Study on Regional Development, JNU, whose extensive research on caste-based discrimination across Asia has had a profound impact

Date:19th Feb 2025

Mode: Hybrid

Offline: Location: Board Room, National Foundation of India, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi

For Online, please register here.

Timings: 3:00 PM to 5 PM