Forum on Minority Issues FIFTH SESSION Implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities: Identifying positive practices and opportunities Distinguished Chair, fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to be here today, to speak on Dalit and Dalit women’s issues in Nepal, in relation to some of the challenges encountered when trying to implement many of the provisions outlined in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. As you may know, Dalits are the lowest caste in Nepal, the ‘untouchables’. The term ‘Dalit’ means ‘broken people’ in Sanskrit. Officially, Dalits make up 13% of the population, unofficial estimates put the figure between 20 to 25%, with 23 sub-castes of Dalits. Dalits, and Dalit women like myself, are discriminated against in every aspect of society. How are Dalits discriminated against? We are denied access to public water sources, to the temples we worship in, to jobs, to schools and hospitals. People from other castes say we are dirty, that we might ‘pollute’ their food, their temples, even taint their children, by association with us. It is very difficult for us to own land, to own businesses and improve our economic situations. We live in poverty, Dalit women often have seven or eight children due to lack of awareness about family planning, and it is Dalit women who are the most vulnerable to gender-based violence. We are denied a voice by the upper castes of Nepali society, by those with power. So, the main question is, how can awareness and implementation of the Declaration be improved, in order to raise the profile and end discrimination against Dalits and Dalit women, in Nepal and South Asia? In order to ensure effective implementation, stronger political will and commitment are important; both in amending out-dated and discriminatory laws, and implementing agreed provisions for Dalits. Civil society, UN agencies, and member states must help to pressure and influence the government to ensure the effective implementation of