“…caste determines what one is allowed to be, what one is forced to, and denies one’s ability to live a life of human dignity. Caste is an all encompassing frame of barriers and violations for those of us – the Dalits at the bottom of the caste system”. With these words, General Secretary Vincent Manoharan (right) of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights in his acceptance speech summarised the effects of caste discrimination on the 260 million Dalits of the world, who suffer this dehumanising practise every day (05-NOV-07).
Gunta Venge / Rafto Human Rights House
Based on the Rafto Foundation´s press release of November 5, 2007
All photos: Sean Murray 
The Rafto Foundation has selected NCDHR as the 2007 Rafto Prize laureate as an important recognition of NCDHR’s work and of the struggle to end discrimination and human rights violations against India’s 167 million Dalits.
By the selection of NCDHR for the 2007 award, the Rafto Foundation is sending a strong message to the international community that it is time for action to bring an end the world’s most serious human rights problems.
Worldwide, 260 million people suffer caste-based discrimination with daily humiliations, segregation in housing and education, denial of access to public resources like drinking water among other things.
Although caste motivated crimes against Dalits are widespread, the justice system largely fails to hold perpetrators of violence, murder, sexual assault and public humiliation accountable.
Vincent Manoharan stated that “…the Rafto Prize will make the Dalit cause more visible within India and hopefully put it higher on the international agenda. Also it will boost the confidence in the work that is being undertaken by NCDHR and many other Dalit organisations. Our aim is simply to be regarded as equal citizens in the Indian society”.
At a ceremony at the National Theatre in Bergen on 4 November 2007, Arne Liljedahl Lynngaard, the chairman of the Rafto Foundation motivated the selection of NCDHR with their outstanding efforts during the last ten years to document atrocities against Dalits, provide legal support to the victims and lobby state institutions to take action.
Vincent Manoharan pointed to the lack of political will to address human rights violations against Dalits as a crucial reason for the continuation of the deep rooted mindset of systematic discrimination against Dalits in all spheres of life.
He thanked the Rafto Foundation for their recognition of the plight of Dalits as a major human rights crisis of our time and called upon all who are committed to human rights to join the growing international movement in support of Dalit rights.
The International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN ) applauds the Rafto Foundation for their choice of NCDHR as this year’s laureate, which shows the determination of the Foundation to support and give recognition to suppressed groups who are not in the international spotlight.
Vincent Manoharan, Vimal Thorat, Paul Divakar Torchlight procession after the award ceremony
 of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights in his acceptance speech summarised the effects of caste discrimination on the 260 million Dalits of the world, who suffer this dehumanising practise every day (05-NOV-07).
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