Conflict/Post conflict/violence situations “Caste based gender violence – Dalit women’s security and access to justice” Thilagam- EVIDENCE/IDSN Dalit women and girls face extreme forms of violence and multiple discrimination as they are considered to be at the bottom of social hierarchical order – the caste system. The caste system, estimated to affect 260 million people globally, declares Dalit women to be intrinsically impure and ‘untouchable‘, which sanctions social exclusion and exploitation. The caste society which is inherently violent in nature, unleashes violence on dalit women because of a combination of three forms of discrimination – caste, class and gender. Violence against Dalit women is most often used as a means of punishment and demonstration of power by the dominant castes towards both the women and their community. Forms of Violence encompassing physical, sexual, psychological, social and economical harm are perpetrated against women and girls from dalit communities. “The National Crime Records Bureau data records reveal that more than 5 Dalit women are raped every day in India”. ‘Various independent reports reveal the rise in atrocities against Dalits and dalit women”. Dalit women are often victims of trafficking and forced sexual labour, such as the devadasi and jogini systems of forced prostitution in India and in Nepal. In Pakistan, women from ‘scheduled castes’ fall victims to sexual abuse, abduction and forced conversion of religion. Although it is alarming, crimes are grossly underreported and the levels of enduring violence against dalit and other minority women and girls is much higher than official data shows. Violence is perpetuated against Dalit women each day in both public and private spheres by the family, community and State actors. Dalit women and girls who challenge caste hierarchies or stand up for their rights are frequently targeted with violent retaliation by those who benefit from the caste system. Irrespective of reports available at national and international level on the situation of dalits; Interventions made before local and international human rights mechanisms to address the inhuman oppression; Observations, recommendations and remarks by international bodies and human rights institutions including the UN High Commissoner and UN Secretary General, the governments of caste affected countries continue to be in denial. India denied caste as a factor of gender inequality in the recently held Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: Beijing +20 .