The Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent advocates for the inclusion and rights of CDWD across various UN platforms. Their efforts seek to ensure that these communities receive the recognition and support necessary to achieve full inclusion and access to the SDGs.
At the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2024, a pivotal side event underscored the urgent need for global recognition and action against discrimination based on work and descent (DWD). The event, titled “Good Practices and Challenges in the 2030 Agenda – Showcasing Ongoing Inclusive Strategies of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent,” saw prominent representatives from Canada, Spain, Colombia, North Macedonia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and UN Women come together to advocate for marginalized communities.
Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD), comprising approximately 270 million individuals worldwide, face entrenched discrimination linked to inherited social status and ancestral occupations. This includes groups such as the Dalits and Burakumin in Asia, the “slave caste” in Africa, and the Roma in Europe.
During the side event, participants highlighted that current international human rights frameworks inadequately address the specific discrimination faced by CDWD. The discrimination often involves practices rooted in notions of purity and pollution, leading to significant exclusion and inequality.
Leading the call for action, Robert Rae, Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, expressed commitment to advancing discussions and creating an informal working group at the UN to address these issues. “We will continue to talk about these issues and figure out how we can create this informal discussion at the UN,” he stated.
Ljubomir Danailov Frchkoski of North Macedonia outlined successful practices and reforms at the national level that could serve as models for broader implementation. He emphasized the need for all countries to adopt effective practices during the transition to more profound legal reforms.
Diverse backgrounds
Nepal’s Anita Paudel showcased the country’s constitutional measures against untouchability and affirmative action for Dalits, while Spain’s Paula Fernandez-Wuff presented the country’s national Roma integration strategy, highlighting legislative efforts and the creation of a commission for memory and reconciliation.
Despite these positive steps, panellists stressed that long-term, structural reforms are necessary to address the systemic issues facing communities discriminated on the basis of their work and descent (CDWD). Queen Bisseng of the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) called for a UN resolution specifically addressing the rights of CDWD to ensure global recognition and protection.
UN Women’s Marie-Elena John praised the unity and shared goals of CDWD communities, despite their diverse backgrounds. She noted the importance of global solidarity in their fight against discrimination.
Paul Divakar, Convenor of GFoD, emphasized the need to recognize the contributions of CDWD to global development and to reject continued discrimination. “We will not allow this form of discrimination to continue,” he asserted.
About GFoD
The event concluded with a call for broader participation in the proposed informal working group, aimed at exploring the need for a UN Declaration on the Rights of CDWD. H.E. Mohan Pieris of Sri Lanka highlighted the importance of moving from rhetoric to action, stressing that proactive measures are essential for making tangible progress.
The Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) continues to advocate for the inclusion and rights of CDWD across various UN platforms. Their efforts seek to ensure that these communities, representing one of the largest marginalized groups globally, receive the recognition and support necessary to achieve full inclusion and access to sustainable development goals.
The Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) is dedicated to advocating for the rights of CDWD worldwide. The forum works towards the full realization of human rights and sustainable development goals for these communities, which suffer from significant exclusion and discrimination due to inherited social status and stigmatized ancestral occupations.
