United Nations – ERGO Network

Catalysing Change: Advocacy for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent at the United Nations

In September 2023 rights expert Simona Torotcoi represented ERGO Network within the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent delegation during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which included the SDG Action Weekend and the SDG Summit 2023.

Discrimination based on work and descent is any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on inherited status such as caste, including present or ancestral occupation, family, community or social origin, name, birthplace, place of residence, dialect and accent that has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, or any other field of public life. This type of discrimination is typically associated with the notion of purity and pollution and practices of untouchability, and is deeply rooted in societies and cultures where this discrimination is practised” (Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Elimination of Discrimination based on Work and Descent, Human Rights Council 11^th Session, 18 May 2009)

The SDG Action Weekend provided opportunities for stakeholders, UN entities, and Member States to convene at the United Nations Headquarters and make specific commitments to drive SDG transformation from now until 2030. On September 16, speaking at “Breaking Down the Barriers to Leave No One Behind” GFoD delegate Beena Pallical emphasized the importance of the UN and member states embracing the SDGs, particularly addressing communities discriminated against based on work and descent, including Dalits, Roma, and other marginalised groups.

During the “From the SDG Summit to the Summit of the Future: Building the UN We Need” session, Paul Divakar, the convener of GFoD, stressed the significance of combating discrimination and exclusion of communities such as the Roma in Europe, Haratins in Africa, Quilambola in Brazil, Buraku in Japan, and other marginalised communities.

Simona Torotcoi, representing ERGO Network and GFoD, spoke at the Minority Rights Group International side event, “Invisible No Longer: Data Solutions to Leaving No One Behind Dilemmas.”

She addressed the critical issue of the lack of disaggregated data for Roma and other Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent, which affects the implementation and reporting of SDGs and ongoing policy work within the European Union related to Roma communities.

Disaggregated data is essential for understanding inequalities and evaluating progress in Roma inclusion policies. It empowers decision-makers, holds civil society accountable, and enables communities to advocate for changes in policies directly affecting them. Simona stressed the importance of engaging Roma communities in data collection, analysis, and usage, moving beyond formal consultations.

On the 20th of September, GFoD organised a side event titled “Broad-Caste” A light on Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent at the SDG midpoint & beyond. It brought together key governmental representatives, such as the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal Mr N. P Saud, who pointed out the fact that the SDGs do not mention discrimination based on work and descent and this poses significant challenges to achieving the SDGs agenda: “The world cannot move towards peaceful and inclusive societies and achieve the 2030 Agenda without addressing the root causes of discrimination which more than 270 million people”.

The Minister emphasized that this discrimination affects more than 270 million people globally, extending beyond specific geographical areas and impacting communities like Haratine in the Sahel, Forgeron in West Africa, Roma in Europe, Burakumin in Japan, Dalits in South Asia, Quilambolo and Palenque in South America, and others.

To address these shortcomings and rectify the omission of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) in key UN frameworks, the Minister expressed full support for GFoD’s efforts to work toward a UN Resolution addressing the discrimination faced by these communities. Nepal also expressed readiness to collaborate with concerned stakeholders.

The following day, GFoD co-organised another side event in partnership with UNDP, UNFPA, UNWomen, and Minority Rights International, titled “Anti-racism in UN Programming” (recorded). This event focused on what UN agencies can and should do to combat racism and include minorities in their policies and programs. Simona discussed the intersectional discrimination and oppression experienced by women from Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD), stemming from overlapping social constructs of ability, age, work, caste, class, and gender.

She urged the UN and its agencies to recognise the challenges faced by women from CDWD communities and adopt an intersectional approach in all programmes and policies, both within the United Nations and in their external programs. Simona also proposed establishing a working group to examine the normative standards and lived realities related to the protection of women from CDWS.

Joint Briefing for United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Joint Briefing for United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding the review of the implementation of the CRPD by the EU

Together with other human rights organisations, ERGO endorsed a Joint Briefing to inform the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities about issues of inequality and intersectional discrimination faced by persons with disabilities with intersectional identities in the European Union (EU). Its objective is to inform the adoption of the List of issues prior to reporting on the EU.

The endorsing organisations are alarmed by the rate of discrimination faced by persons with disabilities in all their diversity in Europe. The EU has not taken enough measures to address equality and non-discrimination in its legislation and policies, and in particular to address intersectional and multiple forms of discrimination.

In particular, the EU is yet to:

Adopt legislation and policies to prevent and combat discrimination on all grounds and in all areas of life
Adopt legislation and policies to prevent and combat hate speech and hate crime, including based on disability and other grounds
Ensure that Equality Bodies are protected by standards that among others, harmonise the mandate of equality bodies so that they can adequately and efficiently combat disability-based discrimination and support victims of unequal treatment
Adopt intersectional policies and targeted measures against intersectional discrimination

The organisations recommend that the CRPD Committee request information on those issues and pay particular attention to the diversity of persons with disabilities in its List of issues prior to report and Concluding observations.

Download the joint report

Contributors and endorsement

AGE Platform Europe
Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice
Eurochild
The European Disability Forum (EDF)
The European Network Against Racism (ENAR)
The European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet)
The European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO)
The European Youth Forum
Hope and Homes for Children
ILGA-Europe
Lumos
Transgender Europe (TGEU)

Communities Discriminated based on Work and Descent

Solidarity and Cooperation with Communities Discriminated based on Work and Descent

As part of the Stakeholder Group of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent, ERGO Network attended the preparatory meeting of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) on 3 March regarding the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) review process in 2021.

The meeting of the HLPF in 2021 will be held from Tuesday, 6 July, to Thursday, 15 July 2021, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This includes the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Tuesday, 13 July, to Thursday, 15 July 2021 as part of the high-level segment of the Council.

The HLPF in 2021 will discuss Sustainable Development Goals 1 on no poverty, 2 on zero hunger, 3 on good health and well-being, 8 on decent work and economic growth, 10 on reduced inequalities, 12 on responsible consumption and production, 13 on climate action, 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17 on partnerships in depth. The Forum will also consider the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) is the core United Nations platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. More information about the HLPF can be found at: High-Level Political Forum 2021 (HLPF 2021) .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform (un.org)

World Social Forum 2021

On 26 January, ERGO Network was part of the seminar ‘Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) and the Pandemic, its impact and Mitigation Measures’ under the banner of the World Social Forum 2021.

This year, before the background of an unparalleled pandemic crisis, the seminar centered on the impact of Covid 19 on communities discriminated based on work and descent.

The main concerns of this era on CDWD are the gender dimension and access to justice, escalating with Covid 19 exclusion and lack of access to education. Further, the CDWD are blamed wrongfully for spreading of COVID19, facing atrocities and violence from other communities. 6 regional and national leaders of CDWD from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America shared their communities’ experiences during this crisis and together determined the impact of livelihood, access to services, and developmental justice during the COVID 19 mitigation measures.

The seminar came up with clear recommendations for social movements, addressed to state authorities across the regions. As these communities( CDWD) are one of the most excluded and segregated groups globally, it is crucial that they are included in the recovery plans of the pandemic.

Gabriela Hrabanova, Director of ERGO presented the impact of Covid 19 on Roma and Traveller’s communities, mentioning that antigypsyism spread considerably during the pandemic. She spoke about the organization’s focus on advocacy towards EU institutions to fight antigypsyism and to create equality for Roma communities.

She stated:

“We want to set a better example for governments by upholding the rule of law and human rights, to fight antigypsyism and to cover Roma in mainstream causes and recovery plans by EU institutions”.

The World Social Forum is a visible manifestation of global civil society, that seeks international solidarity. It consists of members of the global movement for social and economic justice, meeting annually to endeavor alternative future through promoting counter-hegemonic globalization.

International Congress on Discrimination based on Work and Descent

International Congress on Discrimination based on Work and Descent tackling Casteism, Antigypsyism, Traditional and Contemporary forms of Slavery and Other Analogous Forms of Discrimination (ICDWD)

21-23 September 2019, New York

From 21 to 23 September, a delegation of Roma activists from ERGO Network took part in the International Congress on Discrimination based on Work and Descent tackling Casteism, Antigypsyism, Contemporary forms of Slavery and Other Analogous Forms of Discrimination, which was held in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The ERGO Network delegation consisted of ERGO Network director Gabriela Hrabanova, Michal Miko (RomanNet, Czech Republic), Isaac Blake (National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups, UK) and Vesa Batalli (Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, Kosovo). The conference was co-hosted by the Asia Dalit Rights Forum, the African Network on Discrimination based on Work, Descent and Contemporary Forms of Slavery, ERGO Network, the Inclusivity Project, Trust Africa and Boston Study Group.

The Conference was preceded by a Parliamentarian’s Roundtable on discrimination based on work and descent, hosted in the Permanent Mission to the UN of Senegal.

Communities discriminated based on Work and Descent (DWD) are some of the most excluded, segregated, and marginalized groups at the global and local levels within their social, economic, political, and cultural systems. The inequalities and disadvantages they experience exist in various services like education, hunger alleviation, health, water and sanitation, employment, voting rights, equal access to land and housing, access to religious institutions in the public sphere, disaster risk reduction and environmental health, some of which are represented in SDGs through definite goals. Gender equality, peace and justice constitute cross-cutting, significant determinants, which must be addressed to mitigate inequalities within the countries.

The Congress adopted the New York Declaration: Global March Forward to Eradicate Discrimination, calling upon the United Nations and States Parties to adopt effective measures towards ending all forms of discrimination based on work & descent, untouchability, antigypsyism, socio-cultural beliefs, and other analogous forms of discrimination including contemporary forms of slavery.

The ERGO delegation furthermore took part in the People’s Assembly organized by the Global Actions against Poverty and the United Nations Civil Society SDG Forum, which aimed to create a space for constructive and propositional dialogue between civil society and UN Member States, international organizations and other related constituencies on the possible responses to the challenges exposed by the first four years of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Letter to UN Secretary General on lead poisoning in Kosovo

Letter to UN Secretary General on lead poisoning in Kosovo – 18th of February 2019.

Last week 55 Members of the European Parliament from various political groups sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The letter urges the UNSG to take long overdue steps to ensure that the victims of widespread lead poisoning at UN-run camps in Kosovo receive individual compensation, adequate health care and educational support. The UN’s role in the violation of the rights of these people has been clearly documented by the Human Rights Advisory Panel (HRAP). The affected Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo have been struggling to care for sick family members who were exposed to toxic lead for more than a decade. The current Trust Fund, however, falls short of offering individual compensation and no member state has so far contributed to it.

Read here the full Letter to the UN Secretary-General

(Photo credit/ARMEND NIMANI)