CDWD Women and the Beijing+30 Review: Persistent Gaps in National Reports

The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. As governments and stakeholders meet to assess global progress on gender equality, the continued exclusion of women from Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) remains a concern. To…

‘Supreme Court of India’s verdict protects rights of CDWD in Modern Economy’

‘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…

India: Dalit researchers win landmark Intellectual Property Compensation in atrocity case

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…

Collective Power: Why Ephraim Ogwu believes Africa CDWD must work together 

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…

Global Report on status of Communities Discriminated On Work And Descent- 2024

Global Report on status of Communities Discriminated On Work And Descent- 2024

The Global Report on the Status of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) was released by the Special Rapporteur on Minority Rights on November 28 during Forum on Minority Rights. The report emphasizes the importance of dismantling the purity-pollution paradigm and fostering inclusive societies. Earlier, a copy of global report was also handed over to…