Statement prepared for the Eighth Session of Minority Rights Forum on Minorities and the exercise of Ralic.e...powers Session III Prepared by Dr. V.A Ramesh Nathan General Secretary, National Dalit Movement for Justice- NCDHR Honorable Madam /Sir, Excellence's, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is a privilege and an honour to be here and have this interactive dialogue with you on the situation of minorities and exercise of police powers. Now with this, I would like to present the issues of 260 millions Dalits in Asia who are traditionally regarded as untouchables (outcastes). They continue to be discriminated and serious crimes are committed against them ranging from verbal abuse on caste name, physical assault, murders, rapes, arson, social and economic boycotts, naked parading, burnt alive, mass killings, mass rapes, gang rapes, forcing to drink urine and eat human excreta etc 1.Over the years newer forms of crimes are emerging. Constitutional and legal measures have been put in place specifically for the protection of Dalit communities in India and Nepal. The Constitutions of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka recognize that all persons are equal before law and shall not be discriminated. The Constitution of India provides a rights-based framework grounded in principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. Constitutional rights include the right to non-discrimination on the basis of caste; a ban on the practice of 'Untouchability', (Article 17). Special laws have been enacted for Dalits in India to protect their right to security of life namely, The Protection of Civil Rights Act 1976 and also The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 19892. In Nepal the Caste-based Discrimination. and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2011 seeks to protect Nepali citizens from caste and untouchability related crimes. However, legislation largely remain ineffective in their implementation and Dalits continue to suffer caste-based discrimination and violence in all spheres of life. On Affirmative action for disadvantaged or