Call to Eradicate Discrimination Based on Work and Descent Eliminating Casteism, Antigypsyism, Traditional and Modern Forms of Slavery

STATEMENT

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We, the Parliamentarians, Human Rights Defenders and the Academia, representing around 260 million people in the world discriminated on the basis of work and descent (DWD), have gathered together from 15 countries in different continents in virtual conference on 14 September, 2020.

We thank the Permanent Mission of Germany to United Nations at New York for hosting our conference which is determined to work towards the total elimination of discrimination based on work and descent, casteism, antigypsyism, traditional and contemporary forms of slavery and other analogous forms of discrimination.

In order to realize the above, we call upon the Government Missions, UN Experts, Human Rights Organisations to form a Coordination Group to perform the following tasks:

1. To set up an Informal Working Group to study and recommend steps that map the critical actions to be taken at UN SDGs, UN Third Committee, the WCAR +20 and other relevant mechanisms. This Working Group will comprise Parliamentarians, academics, human rights experts, Permanent Missions, UN experts (including former) and professionals from various walks of life;
2. To set up another Informal Working Group at the UN HRC to operationalise the Guidance Tool to eliminate DWD by having similar members – Parliamentarians, academics, human rights experts, Permanent Missions, UN experts (including former), and professionals from various walks of life;
3. To ensure that the Regional DWD bodies in Asia, Africa, Europe, South America address the real concerns of DWD communities adequately and effectively.

In order to achieve the above tasks, we hereby resolve International Parliamentary Forum on DWD and the Global Forum on DWD to plan and monitor the progress of realising these tasks both at the global and regional levels.

With a deep respect for our people and culture, with confidence in responding to the challenges, with faith in our strength, and with hope in our vision, we shall achieve our goal, as we go forth together as one body.

14 September, 2020

List of Participants