Working Towards Addressing Racial Discrimination & Call for an Anti-Racial Law

– 21st March is observed globally as International Day to End Racial
Discrimination. Racial discrimination cases occur on daily basis in
India. Of the various incidents, the violence against Northeast people
in the city, as per data provided by Union Home Ministry, has risen
around 226 percent in the year 2014. As per the Bezbaruah Committee
Report submitted in 2014, 86 percent of migrated Northeasters have faced
discrimination or harassment with immense psychological and physical
impact. This and other forms of racial discrimination that exists in
country must be addressed.

To address the issue on this occasion we are organising a landmark
conference on Deepening Diversity and Democracy in India: Working
Towards Addressing Racial Discrimination & Call for an Anti-Racial
Law on 21st March 2016 from 9 am to 5 pm at Conference Hall No 1 at
India International Centre (IIC), 40 Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi 110003.
This conference is hosted by Control Arms Foundation of India in
partnership with Multiple Action Research Group, Northeast India Women
Initiative for Peace and NEIFAR. The event will bring academicians,
experts, and community people to discuss this important issue and to
seek solutions.

India as country had shown its commitment to address issue by signing
the “United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination” in 1967.The Convention on the Elimination of All
Racial Discrimination was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1965.
With rising racial discrimination and attack and xenophobia, it is time
that we as a nation make it into a law and make possible an anti-racial
law.

We look forward to your support in covering the event and giving to this
critical topic the media attention it deserves. Kindly find attached
poster and concept note.

When: 21 March 2016 (9.30am to 5pm)

Where: Venue: Conference Hall No 1, India International Centre, 40, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi

CONCEPT NOTE

21st March Is International Day to End Racial Discrimination

To commemorate the occasion, one day conference on
Deepening Diversity & Democracy in India:

Working Towards Addressing Racial Discrimination & Call for an Anti-Racial Law

Organised by Control Arms Foundation of India, NEIFAR & Multiple Action Research Group

Venue: Conference Hall 1, India International Centre (IIC), 40 Max
Mueller Marg, Delhi-110003 Date: Mon 21st March 2016 Time: 9 am-5pm

“Oneness amongst men (humankind), the advancement of unity in
diversity–this has been the core religion of India.” – Rabindranath
Tagore, 1861-1941
India is a land of great diversity consisting of 29 States and 7 Union
Territories. The term “Unity in Diversity ” has often been used to
promote country’s immense socio-cultural diversity and to bind people
and states together as one. India has diverse communities settled in
vastly different regions. In government’s official portal, it is written
“All the five major racial types – Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid,
Caucasian, and Negroid find representation among the people of India. ”

The Constitution of India helps India constitute its diverse components
into one functional reality with its principles of human rights,
federalism and separation of powers

Tackling racial discrimination issue in India

United Nations International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination, defines the term “racial discrimination” as any
distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour,
descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect
of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an
equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the
political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.
Non-discrimination and equality before the law and of the law,
according to United Nations, constitute fundamental principles of
international human rights law. The prohibition of racial discrimination
is enshrined in all core international human rights instruments and
according to the International Court of Justice, constitutes an
ergaomnes obligation .

The root cause of racism and racial conflict is the false identification
of the body with the person. International conflicts, religious
conflicts, sexual conflicts, and many other conflicts are rooted in this
misunderstanding. Each body has a multitude of different labels and
characteristics. Due to identifying the body as the self, we wrongly
consider the person to be the labels associated with his/her body. Being
unable to see past the labels to the person himself, we end up in a
world of barriers and conflicts.

A study by India’s premier National Human Rights Commission revealed
that 54 per cent of people from Northeast states of India living,
working in capital felt that New Delhi is the most “unsafe place” in
terms of ethnic intolerance while 67 percent feel that they were victims
of ethnic/racial discrimination. Also the violence against Northeast
people in the city, as per data provided by Union Home Ministry, has
risen around 226 percent in the year 2014.As per the Bezbaruah Committee
Report submitted in 2014, 86 percent of migrated Northeasters have
faced discrimination or harassment with immense psychological and
physical impact. This and other forms of racial discrimination that
exists in country must be addressed.

India signed the “United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination” in 1967.The Convention on the
Elimination of All Racial Discrimination was adopted by the UN General
Assembly in 1965. With rising racial discrimination and attack and
zenophobia, it is time that we as a nation make it into a law and hence
call for an anti-racial law.

21st March is International Day to End Racial Discrimination. To
commemorate the occasion we are organising One Day Conference on
Deepening Diversity and Democracy in India: Working Towards Addressing
Racial Discrimination & Call for an Anti-Racial Law on 21st March
2016 from 9 am to 5pm at Conference Hall No 1 at India International
Centre (IIC), 40 Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi 110003.
Aim of the conference is to address the issue of deepening diversity,
understanding racial discrimination and ways to address this in India
through research improved and strengthened civil society responses and
initiatives, engaging local authorities and government structures &
global efforts to address the issue and the call for an anti-racial law.
This will help in ensuring inclusive diverse India true to its
Constitution and as in signed in UN Convention to End Racial
Discrimination. Noted scholars, parliamentarians, survivors of
discrimination, media, women & other organisations, think tanks,
legal organisations, institutions, universities and other important
stake holders will be a part of this very important proceeding.

We will appreciate if you kindly confirm your participation by 17 March 2016.

For any questions for clarifications, kindly contact

Ms Binalakshmi Nepram ~ Binalakshmi@gmail.com

Mr Nadeem ~ nadeem.cafi@gmail.com

Ms Omita ~ omita.cafi@gmail.com

Office of Control Arms Foundation of India

B B5 / 146, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029, India

Phone: +91-11-46018541 Fax: +91-11-26166234

Web: www.womensurvivorsnetwork.org / www.cafi-online.org