Advocacy and Research Program
Political and Electoral Participation of Dalits in South Asia
Published by the International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
Electoral systems empower the people to choose their leaders. Inclusive participation in the electoral system is essential to the functioning of democratic institutions and processes. However, in many parts of South Asia, the history and remnants of the caste system continue to affect the lives and political and electoral participation of those at the bottom of the hierarchy, such as Dalits. This report comprises an analysis of survey data of Dalits across South Asia with questions on elections-related issues and South Asian countries' legal framework affording Dalits equal political participation, particularly in Nepal. Six in-depth interviews with key informants from the Election Commission of Nepal, the Nepal National Dalit Commission, and other Nepali electoral stakeholders informed the survey findings.
BUILT BY INJUSTICE: SOUTH ASIAN MIGRANT WORKER EXPLOITATION AT PLACES OF WORSHIP
Published by the International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR) and Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR)
As the South Asian diaspora continues to grow globally, so too has knowledge of exploitation and caste discrimination in these communities. The news in May 2021 that the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey was using exploited Dalit labor for temple renovations sent shockwaves through the South Asian diaspora community, prompting a call to action for the community and an investigation into further rights abuses. This report published in June 2022 is a response to that call and seeks to increase awareness and recommend practical solutions for community members, places of worship, civil society, labor unions, and policymakers.