Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent - GFoD

UN Declaration: A CDWD Symposium
2024-07-13 10:30 - 17:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | PRCC Hall 233, Rutgers University, Nevark, New Jersey, NJ, United States
Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD), including but not limited to Dalit, Roma, Quilombola, and Haratine communities, face systemic discrimination and marginalization across the world. CDWD are the people directly affected by Discrimination based on Work and Descent (DWD). They continue to face extreme forms of isolation and discrimination, which acts as an obstacle to their attainment of civil, political, economic, cultural and social rights. While efforts have been made to address the challenges faced by individual communities, there remains a need to approach this issue from a global CDWD perspective.
It is in this context that the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD), in partnership with Ambedkar International Mission, Bahujan Scholars, The Inclusivity Project (TIP) and other networks is organizing a symposium in Rutgers University, NJ on July 13, 2024.
The discussion involving academics, activists, and diaspora community members seeks to amplify the voices of CDWD and advance their rights and dignity through advocacy, research, and community engagement. It further focuses on CDWD globally, shifting the focus from individual communities to a broader perspective. This discussion also sheds light on the diaspora community members and explores effective strategies for advancing social justice and the inclusion of CDWD in the global platform.T
The event will be held in person mode. For registration, please click here

Good Practices and Challenges in the 2030 Agenda - Showcasing ongoing inclusive strategies of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent
2024-07-09 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Hybrid: Offline-United Nation Conference Room F Online: Zoom, United Nation Head Quaters, New York, NY, United States
For registration : https://theinclusivityproject-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tdO-srzIsEtUCr_6DcIxAGIm2Tj2kCt3J
The Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN in New York together with the Permanent
Mission of North Macedonia, Permanent Mission of Canada (TBC) and the
Permanent Missions of Austria, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Ivory Coast, Gambia (TBC) and UN
Women (Racial Justice) are delighted to co-organize a HLPF 2024 side event alongside the
Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) and The
Inclusivity Project uniting organizations working for recognition and rights of Communities
Discriminated on Work and Descent including the African Network on Discrimination based
on Work and Descent and Contemporary Forms of Slavery (ANDS), The Africa GFoD, The
Asia Dalit Rights Forum (ADRF), the European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network
(ERGO Network) and the National Coordination of Rural Black Quilombola Communities
(CONAQ – Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais
Quilombolas)
The session will highlight the importance of addressing discrimination based on work and
descent as a critical step towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Through an exchange of ideas on inclusive and equitable approaches, strengthening
partnerships and collaborative practice, the side event is an opportunity for all stakeholders to
renew their commitment to the principle of ‘Leaving no one behind’ and reinforce the 2030
Agenda for 270 million people across the world who are discriminated on work and
descent.
Context: Growing recognition and acceptance has resulted in the recognition of the Stakeholder Group of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (SG-CDWD) anchored in GA
resolution 67/290 as part of Major Groups and Other Stakeholders in 2020. Since then, the
SG-CDWD has ensured the representation and participation of voices of some of the most
sidelined communities in the national and regional SDG implementation strategies.
Member States and UN Agencies have been receptive to responding to the demands and
initiating systematic documentation efforts and recognition and inclusion efforts into the
systematic design of policies to mechanisms for the marginalized.
Despite significant progress, discrimination remains a major barrier to achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
emphasizes the importance of leaving no one behind and recognizes the need for inclusive
development. Marginalized groups—such as women, minorities, persons with disabilities,
and Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD). These intersecting discriminations perpetuate cycles of exclusion and hinder their full participation in economic,
social, and political life.
Who are Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD?
Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) are known by many
names depending on where they live and the languages they speak. Together they
represent 270 million individuals, which would constitute the 6th largest country on earth.
Dalits and Burakumin in Asia, the “slave caste” in The Gambia and Mauritania called
jongoo/komo and Haratin, the Quilombola in Brazil and Roma in Europe and beyond are just
some examples of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD). These
communities share the common experience of living in socially segregated societies that
discriminate against them based on the perceived low social status often tied to labels such as
“unclean” or “polluted” often tied to traditional professions.
In 2024 many Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) offer a unique opportunity to showcase
achievements in countries with significant CDWD populations. However, work and
collaboration with CDWD is an ongoing process and need not be reduced to the VNR process
this event also wishes to showcase. Some examples of recent successes paired with ambitions and new policy initiatives this side event will highlight include:
1. The Inclusion in the Census in several countries and overcoming the invisibility of
counting everyone in government censuses, states have taken a critical step toward
recognizing the existence and needs of all communities, including marginalized and
descent-based groups. This inclusion ensures policy-making and resource allocation
with CDWD in mind.
2. Budgets and Allocation of Quotas notable advancements in budget allocations and the
implementation of quotas to support CDWD and other groups in areas such as
education, political representation, healthcare, and housing.
3. Recognition and Regional Human Rights Mechanisms has also been bolstered by the
efforts of regional human rights mechanisms and civil society organizations,
particularly in Africa. Organizations like the African Commission on Human and
Peoples’ Rights and civil society movements across regions have united to form
coalitions that push for greater recognition and protection of these groups rights.
4. The Platform Provided by the SDGs emphasize inclusivity and aim to leave
no one behind, giving descent-based communities a critical opportunity to be seen and
heard on the global stage despite not being acknowledged specifically and the lack of
targets the Agenda 2030 has allowed for wide civil society participation and
contributed to the successes of the CDWD movement.
Building on the growing recognition and systematic creation of efforts to include the
most marginalized this side event wishes to build on and highlight some
achievements and best practices states and UN agencies have championed. Member
states and renowned leaders of the CDWD will address this side event.
It is hybrid event, taking place on zoom and UN, Conference Room F, New York
(Indicated time is the NY time EDT)

Carving out a Norm at the UN on the Rights of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent
2024-06-11 12:00 UTC | Online: Zoom
GFoD and partners are pleased to invite you to a roundtable discussion on the international
movement of communities discriminated on work and descent (CDWD). This important
alliance of groups from Africa, Europe, Latin America and South Asia, is forging new
pathways for justice at the international level to ensure the voices of CDWD are recognised
and heard. The roundtable will give an opportunity for a ‘long view’ of social mobilisation
pertaining to work and descent-based discrimination that spans several decades of global action.
The roundtable will begin with a presentation by Dr Corinne Lennox, Senior Lecturer in
Human Rights, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of
London, who will speak to the findings in her book, Transnational Social Mobilisation and
Minorities Rights: Identity, Advocacy and Norms (Routledge 2020). The book uses the
concept of ‘norm entrepreneurship’ to comparatively examine the extraordinary efforts by
Dalits, people of African descent, Roma and Indigenous peoples to work across borders and
at the international level to seek protection of their rights. The book draws from interviews
with leading activists, participant observation and the author’s own previous work with
activists from her roles in NGOs, to provide a detailed account of the strategies that have
made these groups highly successful in bringing international attention to their calls for
justice.
In this lecture, Dr Lennox will specifically trace the evolution of the global mobilisation of
Dalits and their alliances with other communities discriminated on the basis of work and
descent. The lecture will discuss the early days of their actions at the UN level, the important
impact of the 2001 World Conference against Racism, their effective use of framing and
political opportunities, and the construction of strong forms of international cooperation to
secure significant recognition at the international level.
This successful example of ‘norm entrepreneurship’ will be the backdrop for further
discussion on the next wave of transnational social mobilisation by communities
discriminated on work and descent (CDWD). Since 2019, CDWD have forged exciting new
alliances across communities and continents to develop new norms that can address the
unique set of human rights violations they experience in common.
Leading voices from the CDWD movement will share their reflections on key strategies that
have bolstered their mobilisation at the international level. The panel will also discuss the
future aims and challenges for the CDWD movement as they seek to solidify their
recognition and support on the international and regional levels.
Time: Jun 11, 2024 12:00 PM Universal Time UTC
Zoom Link: https://theinclusivityproject-org.zoom.us/j/87172689955

Webinar on VNR:Integrating the perspective of communities discriminated on work and descent in the voluntary national reviews
2024-04-17 14:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Online: Zoom
For the last few years, the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Decent as part of the UN Major Groups and Other Stakeholders, has been engaging in the National Voluntary Reviews (VNRs), presenting the viewpoint of our communities across the world (i.e., Roma, Haratins, Buraku, Dalits, Quilombola, etc.). This year we would like to support those civil society representatives and other stakeholders interested in getting involved into their national VNRs, by providing you the in-house knowledge and resources (i.e., training) on how to best engage in such advocacy activities from the perspective of communities discriminated on work and descent!
More about the VNRs
As part of its follow-up and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages member States to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels. The Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) aim to facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned, with a view to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Following states have expressed interest to carry out voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda at the 2024 HLPF: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belize, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Congo (Republic of the), Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Georgia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Palau, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
MGoS responses during the VNR
The Major Groups and Other Stakeholders provide the space for stakeholder engagement around the High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Stakeholders can also engage by: providing inputs to and reviewing drafts of VNRs of their respective countries; representing their constituents as part of government delegations; and participating in the presentation of the VNR to the HLPF. The MGoS launched a call for expression of interest from stakeholders from VNR countries in the preparation of statements for the upcoming HLPF.
The webinar Integrating the perspective of communities discriminated on work and descent in the voluntary national reviews
Across the globe, communities discriminated on work and descent (CDWD) have been left from national sustainable development strategies and action plans. Ensuring “No one is left behind” in the developmental planning and implementation of the SDGs is one of the key priorities of the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Decent. In this webinar we will touch upon the following:

How can we integrate a CDWD perspective in the VNR process and statement?
How can we prepare for the VNR/HLPF?

Approaching the government under review and engage in formal consultations
Encourage governments to include independent contributions in its VNR report and find ways to review the draft VNR report
National advocacy campaigns
In person meetings with VNR countries
Factsheets
Thematic reports and shadow reports

What after the VNR? Follow-up and continuous engagement

Meet with other non-governmental stakeholders to reflect on the VNR process and discuss next steps to influence implementation and follow-up and review
Urge governments to address the main findings of the VNR and to follow through on any commitments it made during the VNR process

The webinar will take place online.
Please register here :https://theinclusivityproject-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsc-qgrzgiG9L-Rk14VMyiyErIjtfG6WTv
Interpretation will be in French, Spanish and Portuguese will be provided.
Read more about the 2024 VNRs here: MGoS, DESA Flag Opportunities for Stakeholder Participation in 2024 HLPF | News | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD

Building Bridges Among Women Discriminated Against on Work and Descent
2024-03-20 14:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | United Nations Church Center, New York
We are living in times of great turmoil, with protracted conflict, the climate crisis and growing inequalities present in the world today. Amidst this growing crisis, state and non-state actors have a very critical role to play in upholding the human rights of communities and individuals and ensuring respect of global standards. In this context, continuing violence and human rights violations perpetrated against Communities Discriminated based on Work and Descent (CDWD) are of great concern. These communities number over 270 million individuals and suffer some of the harshest forms of marginalisation, discrimination and social exclusion in the world. CDWD are known by various names, such as Dalits and Burakumin in Asia, the Bellah community in Mali, the Haratin slave caste in Mauritania, the Quilombola in Brazil and Roma in Europe and beyond. These communities share the common experience of living in socially segregated societies that discriminate against them based on the kinds of occupations that they practise and their family ancestry. Confronted with oppressive beliefs that label them as “unclean” or “polluted”, CDWD are relegated to the margins of society.
Key Objectives:

Spotlight the discrimination and poverty faced by CDWD women.
Explore the intersectionality of gender, caste, ethnicity, race and socio-economic factors that contribute to the challenges faced by these communities.
Emphasise the importance of addressing multiple layers of discrimination for effective policy-making and social change.
Facilitate open discussions between women representatives of CDWD communities, policymakers, academics, and activists.
Highlight the achievements and resilience of women from these communities who have overcome adversity.
Develop recommendations and policy suggestions for governments and international organizations to address discrimination and poverty faced by these women.
Encourage the integration of intersectional perspectives in existing policies and the creation of new initiatives tailored to the specific needs of these communities.

Event format and outcomes: The event will include keynote addresses, will utilise personal narratives, documentaries, and expert panels to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issues. It will be accessible both in-person and virtually to ensure widespread participation.
Aim:This event aims to contribute to the global conversation on gender equality by specifically addressing the discrimination and poverty faced by Roma, Dalit, Quilambola, Buraku, Haratine and other CDWD women. The event seeks to drive actionable initiatives, promote inclusivity, and empower these communities to build a more equitable future. It also aims to establish a platform for sharing best practices and fostering collaborations that can lead to tangible improvements in the lives of these women, and, potentially the establishment of an informal CDWD feminist network.

Organisers:

The Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD)
The Inclusivity Project (TIP)
European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network (ERGO)
Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas (CONAQ)
Asia Dalit Rights Forum
Africa Network on CDWD

Speakers include:
– Simona Torotcoi, European Roma Grassroots Organizations Network
– Patricia Da Costa, The National Coordination for the Articulation of Black Rural Quilombola Communities in Brazil (CONAQ)
– Queen Bisseng, Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent
– Sonu Das, Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement
– Moderator: Beena Pallical, Asia Dalit Rights Forum(ADRF)

Interpretation : Spanish , Portuguese and French

Parallel Event During the NGO CSW68 FORUM
Registration link : http://tinyurl.com/gfod20march
Time: 02:30PM to 04:30PM ET

Commission on the Status of Women NGO Side Virtual Event : Feminization of poverty- How does poverty affect the lives of women discriminated against on work and descent?
2024-03-15 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Online: Zoom
Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD), along with partner entities: European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network (ERGO), Feminist Collective of Romani Gender Experts, and Romalitico – Institute for Research and Policy Analysis organise a side event focusing on addressing the intersectionality of discrimination, marginalization and poverty faced by women from Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD).
Women part of CDWD are regarded as one the most vulnerable groups in terms of social, economic, and political development. They experience intersectional discrimination and oppression because of overlapping social constructs of ability, age, work, caste, class, and gender. The main challenge of CDWD women initially is seen in the lack of available disaggregated data and a focus on their specific needs in policy documents. Making progress towards greater inclusion of CDWD women and girls is not only a human rights imperative, but the recognition of their existence and addressing our challenges is one of the best ways to move forward in ensuring that CDWD are able to access education, health services, social benefits and employment opportunities.
Both poverty and gender inequality represent distinct forms of social injustice, posing significant threats to human rights, individual well-being, and the realization of one’s full potential in life, as emphasized in the human development approach. Despite ongoing efforts to advance gender equality, women continue to occupy an underprivileged position in our societies, consequently facing an increased susceptibility to poverty. Women grappling with poverty encounter a dual risk and injustice, both based on their gender and economic status. Poverty and gender are intertwined, and in the past decade, there has been a growing use of the term ‘feminization of poverty’ to describe the increasing proportion of women among those living in poverty, especially women discrimination on work and descent (such as Dalit, Roma, Quilombola, Burakumin). Some of the factors contributing to the feminization of poverty include intersectional discrimination, distribution of resources within households influenced by patriarchal values, lower rate of education and employment caused by systemic discrimination, unequal access to property, inadequate childcare, segregation in education, lack of access to digitalization etc.
During this event, together with representatives of communities discriminated against on work and descent we aim to explore the nuances of how different groups of women experience poverty. Moreover, the event will also provide us with the platform to present good practices which have successfully helped women and girls in poverty.
During the event, we will also launch a regional report on the situation of Roma women in Europe!
Keynote speech

Penda Mbow, Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar

Moderator:

Marija Sulejmanova, Romalitico – Institute for Research and Policy Analysis

Speakers:

Claudia González, Feminist Collective of Romani Gender Expert
Queen Bisseng, Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network and GFoD
Vercilene, Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas
Logeswary Ponniah, Women Solidarity Front, Kandy
Isabela Mihalache, Senior Advocacy Officer at ERGO Network

To know more about Speakers, please click here
To know more about Speakers, please visit : http://tinyurl.com/cswgfod15march
Time: March 15, 2024 11:30 – 12:30 ET/ 16:30 CET
Zoom Link : https://theinclusivityproject-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkdeiqrD8qEtF-TXR89mI3IeLs-EfZCfT-

Addressing the root causes of poverty among women and girls from descent communities and the impact of UN Programming and NGOs to eradicate stigma
2024-03-13 13:15 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | New York
Official side event during the CSW68 Forum 11 – 22 March 2024
Registration link : https://eu.jotform.com/form/240416061960046
In the context of the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN in New York alongside UN Woman, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Forum of Communities discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) will hold a side event focusing on descent-based communities and the unique discriminatory practices they are experiencing based on the idea of “purity and pollution” often tied to ancestral or present occupations.
The event will address the intersectionality of discrimination, marginalization and poverty, and highlight experiences and program interventions which foster liberation and the eradication of the myth of untouchability and social exclusion.
For more details, please refer to the Concept note.
List and details of Speaker
Date: 13th March 2024
Time: 1:15 PM EST
Registration link : https://eu.jotform.com/form/240416061960046

LNOB: Poverty and discrimination among Roma and Diaspora from Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD
2024-03-11 15:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) | Online: Zoom
Discrimination based on Work and Descent (DWD) affects more than 270 million people worldwide, with about 15 million Roma and other communities DWD diaspora in Europe, such as Dalits and Haratins. CDWD are regarded as the most vulnerable groups in terms of social, economic, and political development. They experience intersectional discrimination and oppression because of overlapping social constructs of ability, age, work, caste, class, ethnicity and gender.

This event aims to:

spotlight the discrimination and poverty faced by CDWD and to emphasise the importance of addressing multiple layers of discrimination for effective policy formulation and societal change or transformation.

share practices, innovative steps, and initiatives from a variety of DWD communities

representatives and stakeholders working on eradicating poverty and reducing discrimination, as a way to accelerate progress on SDG 1.

create a space for discussing current challenges and areas of improvement in the ECE region with regards to SGD 1 and its linkage to Roma and CDWD.

scale up cooperation on the larger issue of discrimination and access to decent jobs.

showcase work at the European and country level that addresses the specific experiences of poverty among CDWD.

List of Speaker
Kapitolina Kondur, ICO Chiricli
Sheila Habib, European Network Against Poverty
Swati Kamblé, independent consultant, India
Diko Hanoune, Association of Mauritanian Haratins in Europe
Lead organizers: Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent
Contributors: The European Roma Grassroot Organizations Network
Focal points: Torotcoi Simona, Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent
E-Mail: simona@globalforumcdwd.org
Registration: https://theinclusivityproject-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwof-GoqTwvE9XNbwcBFKNopEP_mgH3b8cI

Official Side Event to Forum on Minority Issues
2023-11-30
Join us online or in Geneva for our official side event during the 2023 UN Forum on Minority Issues! With a high profile panel, this event will focus on building on regional recognition towards a resolution on the rights of communities discriminated on work and descent. Show your support and follow the event remotely at : https://theinclusivityproject-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYof–tqT8jEtPqXCQ_-pEoQ4ysO9RN1oOY

FR :
Rejoignez-nous en ligne ou à Genève pour notre événement parallèle officiel lors du Forum de l’ONU 2023 sur les questions relatives aux minorités ! Avec un panel de haut niveau, cet événement se concentrera sur la construction d’une reconnaissance régionale vers une résolution sur les droits des communautés discriminées sur le travail et l’ascendance. Montrez votre soutien et suivez l’événement à distance sur : https://theinclusivityproject-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYof–tqT8jEtPqXCQ_-pEoQ4ysO9RN1oOY

PT :
Junte-se a nós on-line ou em Genebra para nosso evento paralelo oficial durante o Fórum da ONU sobre Questões de Minorias de 2023! Com um painel de alto nível, esse evento se concentrará no desenvolvimento do reconhecimento regional em direção a uma resolução sobre os direitos das comunidades discriminadas por trabalho e descendência. Mostre seu apoio e acompanhe o evento remotamente em: https://theinclusivityproject-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYof–tqT8jEtPqXCQ_-pEoQ4ysO9RN1oOY

Business & Human Rights Forum Side Event
2023-11-29 08:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Kolkata)
Join us and UN Special Rapporteur Mr Surya Deva for our event during the 2023 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights!
RSVP here: https://bit.ly/2023BHR to obtain location (5 minutes from the UN). In-person event & lunch will be served.

77th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
2023-10-20 10:00 - 2023-11-09 13:30 (Asia/Katmandu) | Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
📽️ Streaming LIVE Here!

A historical milestone: the NGO Forum of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) @achpr_cadhp adopts the resolution on the protection and promotion of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent’
2023-10-18 08:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Katmandu)
Final_pdf_Draft_Resolution_NGOs_forum_African_Commission_18Oct_2023

Launch of Regional Report on Status of CDWD and Modern Slavery in Africa / Lancement du rapport régional sur la situation de la CDWD et de l'esclavage moderne en Afrique- Topic: NGOs Forum Preceding 77th Session of the ACHPR Time: Oct 17, 2023 08:30 AM Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/99083354288 Meeting ID: 990 8335 4288 Passcode: [REDACTED]
2023-10-17 | Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
