From: Gerard Oonk <g.oonk@indianet.nl>
Date: Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 7:49 PM
Subject: 'Still Captured by Cotton?' - preview to new report on
exploited Dalit girls | European Commission on torture in India | ID
To: ICN.India.News@server.liw.local
INDIA NEWS
Still 'Captured by Cotton'? - Preview to upcoming report on exploited
Dalit girls
The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) and the
India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) have published a sneak
preview of their upcoming report on labour abuses in the South Indian
garment industry.
In May 2011 SOMO and ICN published the report 'Captured by Cotton –
Exploited Dalit girls produce garments in India for European and US
markets'. The report uncovered troubling evidence that products for
big garment brands and retailers are being made by girls from Dalit
and low caste background under exploitative working conditions in
Tamil Nadu, South India. In April 2012, publication of a follow-up
report by SOMO and ICN is scheduled.
The new report examines the current situation at the four garment
manufacturers originally investigated for 'Captured by Cotton'.
Following the first report, SOMO and ICN have looked at what the
industry promised to undertake to curb labour abuses, what has
actually been achieved, and to what effect.
See for more information and a link to the preview (Still 'Captured by
Cotton?') here: http://www.indianet.nl/pdf/pb120305e.pdf
European Commission on torture in India
In reaction to questions raised by Member of European Parliament Mr.
Peter van Dalen after the publication of the report 'Torture in India
2011', High Representative and Vice-Chair of the European Commission
Ashton answered that torture and custodial deaths have been regularly
addressed at the annual local EU-India Human Rights Dialogue and will
again be brought up during the next Dialogue on 22 March 2012. She
also says trade preferences ''can be withdrawn in cases of 'serious
and systematic violations' of principles laid down in the core
international conventions on human, social and labour rights, on the
basis of the conclusions of the international monitoring bodies.''
This does not answer the pertinent question of Van Dalen if the
Commission would be willing ''to launch an investigation .. aimed at
establishing whether there is actually proof of systematic human
rights violations, and if so, to withdraw India's trade preferences?''
See the full Q & A on the matter here: http://dalits.nl/pdf/vr120228e.pdf
Annual Report 2011 International Dalit Solidarity Network
The International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) has published its
Annual Report 2011. It describes the developments in caste-affected
countries and the activities of IDSN at the level of the UN, the EU,
European governments and the private sector. It also includes reports
by coalitions in European countries, including a report on the work of
the Dalit Network Netherlands (see page 32/33).
Some of the highlights of 2011 are:
Hearing in the European Parliament on Caste Discrimination in South Asia
Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability Act, prohibiting caste
discrimination in public and private spheres, enacted in Nepal
Conference on Decade of Dalit Rights UN, 2011-20: Decisive Decade
against Discrimination based on Work and Descent, co-organized by IDSN
UN and Independent experts' meeting on strategies to eliminate
caste-based discrimination
Dalit human rights defenders meet with the High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Navi Pillay
100 Day Campaign Against Caste Discrimination and Untouchability
launched by OHCHR-Nepal and the National Dalit Commission
International Consultation on Good Practices and Strategies to
Eliminate Caste-Based Discrimination and launch of Global Call for
Action
See for the full report: http://dalits.nl/dnn_idsn_e.html
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gerard Oonk
director India Committee of the Netherlands
Mariaplaats 4e, 3511 LH Utrecht
tel. 030-2321340
http://www.indianet.nl
en
http://www.dalits.nl
------------------------------------
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment