The Rafto Foundation in association with the Bergen Summer Research School is holding a roundtable between activists, academics and policymakers on 10 August. Poverty and human rights violations are the issues to be addressed. Special attention will be given to the particular case-study of the “untouchables” or Dalits in India to illustrate how human rights violations can be directly connected to people being stuck in poverty. (05-AUG-08)
The roundtable talk
The roundtable talk will reflect on what forms of poverty may reasonably be considered human rights violations. It will attempt to clarify some of the challenges, advantages, and disadvantages of working against poverty as a human rights problem.
The case of the untouchables is taken as an example, where human rights violations are directly connected with the vulnerable situation of the millions of people of being stuck in poverty. The untouchables or how they call themselves Dalits represent a massive social layer of Indian society, although remain beyond representation as equal citizens.
The case of the untouchables on the Indian subcontinent will be given particular attention. The untouchables, who call themselves Dalits, number in excess of 200 million individuals around the world. Grave poverty is common among them. They suffer many forms of discrimination and violence. Among the most important forms of discrimination are a restricted access to education and employment. The Dalits are discriminated in democratic as well as in authoritarian states. The discrimination is supported partly by religious conceptions prevalent among Hindus, partly by cultural traditions that are shared by Hindus and adherents of other religions, and partly by the traditional organization of the economy in the area. The struggle to improve their economical standing has lasted for decades, and made little progress.
However, today, there are some signs that a powerful Dalit movement is on a rise. Political, humanitarian, and developmental work that was carried out by various Dalit organizations is expanding. As a result, such development within Indian society might become historically vital not only for India itself but also for the entire South Asian region.
Program 10 August
17.30 Introduction by Arne Liljedahl Lynngård, Chairman of the Rafto Prize Committee
17.40 -18.30 Presentations by the participants at the Roundtable
18.30 – 18.40 Intermission
18.40 -20.30 Panel discussion
Venue:
University of Bergen Conference Hall “The Egg”, Parkveien 1, Bergen. Admission: Free
Speakers:
The participants at the roundtable include globally outstanding academic specialists on human rights, together with leading advocates from influential human rights organizations worldwide, e.g. the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights, recipient of the 2007 Rafto Prize for human rights.
Thomas Pogge is professor of philosophy at Yale University, former student of John Rawls, and a prominent international expert on human rights and international justice.
Surinder S. Jodhka is professor of sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Director of the Indian Institute of Dalit studies, a leading expert on caste identity and mechanisms of exclusion in modern India.
Madhu Malhotra is deputy Director for the Asia-Pacific section of Amnesty International. She has extensive experience from human rights work in the region.
Paul Divakar is Co-founder and National Convenor for the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR). Mr. Divakar was one of the three representatives from the NCDHR who received the 2007 Rafto Prize last autumn.
Erna Solberg is a Member of Parliament for Hordaland region, Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Comittee and the Extended Foreign Affairs Comittee of the Norwegian Parliament, Party Leader and Parlimentary Leader of Høyre – the main conservative party of Norway.
Siri Gloppen (chair) is assistant professor of political science, University of Bergen.
For more information about the participants see here
Background
The 2007 Rafto Prize was awarded to the Indian organisation, The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR). Millions of Indians are born into a social and cultural system which fundamentally conflicts with the notion that all human beings are born free with equal rights. The NCDHR received the 2007 Rafto Prize for its brave struggle to promote Dalit rights, and for its efforts to emphasise that the discrimination and oppression resulting from caste prejudice is a serious violation of international human rights.
Contact information
Iver Ørstavik, Head of Education and coordinator of theDalit projects
Phone: +47 55 21 09 33
Mobile: +47 47 09 67 55
E-mail: iver.orstavik(at)rafto.no
www.rafto.no
