From: Eugene Culas <vodi@vodintl.org.uk>
Date: Tue, Feb 23, 2010 at 9:25 PM
Subject: Fw: GIVE YOUR TIMELY SUPPORT FOR A GLOBAL POVERTY CAUSE
To:
Sub: - Support for inclusion of Caste Discrimination within Single Equality Bill
10 Members of the House of Lords on 11th January 10 debated over two hours for an amendment to include Caste Discrimination within the Single Equality Bill (i. copy of Hansard debate attached). Same day, there was a community demonstration before the Parliament, which was also mentioned in the debate. A Joint Statement of organisations supporting the amendment also was given to the Government. (ii. Copy attached). Subsequently, Baroness Thornton and members of the Equality Bill Team convened a Community Consultation on 4th February and next day the Lords championing the cause wrote to Baroness Thornton urging the Government to initiate the amendment during the Reporting Stage - on 2nd March 2010. The Lords are championing this effort as the affected communities have convinced them with their own evidences. Even Baroness Thornton is convinced after hearing so many affected community organisations from around UK. But in order to make the Government move certain, we need additional pressures, as in any other cases, from Aid agencies, NGOs, Charities, development organisations, academia, media, inter / faith groups etc., who are the opinion makers in this country, all of whom carry a lot of influence and weight.
One of the affected organisations - ACDA has released an additional scientific study to prove caste discrimination existing in the UK (iii. details are in the Model support Letter for MPs & Lords attached). We know volunteers, leaders and professionals in the Charity/ NGO/ development field, including DFID are very sympathetic to the cause of 'Dalits', who form 1/3rd of the global poor and 'caste discrimination' causing poverty globally (Ref: "Reducing Poverty by Tackling Social Exclusion"). So here we have up to half a million Diaspora Dalits in the UK who need more than millions of Pounds in international development aid and a handkerchief to wipe their tears when they are discriminated even during times of natural disasters. This is an opportunity for the Aid agencies, NGOs, Charities, development organisations, academia, who are working tirelessly to reduce global poverty including Dalit poverty to really show their commitment and get behind the UK Diaspora Dalit communities on this, as this is a gross denial of their human rights to the fairness and equality, enjoyed by others, in our proposed 'Fairer Britain'. A natural question arises here, if this issue cannot be handled in the UK, how could the Aid agencies, NGOs, Charities, development organisations, academia and faith groups committed to their national and international missions of MDGs, reducing UK and global poverty and human rights, Relief and development work activities address the issue internationally? Millions of Pounds and Dollars are meaningless if it is not translated into timely action. The UK Diaspora Dalit communities are hungry now and they will fight to the end on this now as they feel they can win. Therefore we are urgently requesting you and all your connected organisations to provide all possible support. It is extremely important for the March 2nd Report Stage deadline. What is to be done now urgently are:
1. Endorse the Joint Statement - by contacting Dr. Raj Chand rajchand11@yahoo.com
2. Write to Harriet Harman - (harmanh@parliament.uk ) - Model letter attached
3. Write to Baroness Thornton - (thorntong@parliament.uk )
4. Write to Vera Baird – (bairdv@parliament.uk ) as mentioned in the model letter.
For follow up purposes, please mark us a copy. Awaiting your action at the earliest,
In solidarity to reduce Global Poverty,
Eugene Culas, (Director)
Voice of Dalit International (VODI),
ICG House, Station Approach, Greenford, London UB6 OAL,
Tel/ Fx : (00 44) 0208 813 2380,
Email: vodi@vodintl.org.uk , Web: www.vodintl.org.uk
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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