Testimonial – Meeting with a Blacksmith from the Tuareg community in Niger

Testimonial – Meeting with a Blacksmith from the Tuareg community in Niger

Editor’s note: Across West Africa, several ethnic groups, including the Tuareg, Wolof, Mandinka, Bambara, Fulani, Soninké, Hausa, and Zarma, maintain rigid social hierarchies often described as caste systems. In these societies, the ‘nobles’ are regarded as freeborn, while ‘slaves,’ descendants of captive slaves and the slave trade, continue to face discrimination and remain vulnerable to…

Climate change impact CDWD extensively, says UN Special Rapporteur Dr Surya Deva 

Climate change impact CDWD extensively, says UN Special Rapporteur Dr Surya Deva 

A report by Dr Surya Deva, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, highlighted the severe impacts of climate change on Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD), linking these challenges directly to the broader context of climate justice.  The report, which referred to the work done by Global Forum on Discrimination extensively, underscored how…

UN Special Rapporteur Dr Surya Deva cites status of CDWD in his report on Right to Development

UN Special Rapporteur Dr Surya Deva cites status of CDWD in his report on Right to Development

Paul Diwakar, Convener of the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD), welcomed a recent report, presented by the UN Special Rapporteur Dr Surya Deva, that extensively cited the Collective for Discrimination Based on Work and Descent (CDWD). Diwakar emphasised that every human being, regardless of their background or occupation, possesses an…

When a Roma speaks at UN, the world listens: Interview with Roma academic-activist Simona Torotcoi

When a Roma speaks at UN, the world listens: Interview with Roma academic-activist Simona Torotcoi

In July 2024, Simona Torotcoi addressed the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, a subdivision of both the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Economic and Social Council, responsible for the entire organisation’s policy on sustainable development. Simona, a Roma from Romania and currently working with the ERGO Network, is a part of…

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR): A Catalyst for Roma Rights in Albania

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR): A Catalyst for Roma Rights in Albania

By Siljana Hyseni, Roma Rights Expert, GFoD As a marginalized group, the Roma minority, estimated to be between 8,301 and 120,000 people, continues to experience systemic discrimination, social exclusion, and poverty. These challenges have significantly impacted their access to education, healthcare, employment, and housing. On Friday, August 30, 2024, Albania will have its Universal Periodic Review…