EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/567

(2004/C 88 E/0579)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1092/04

by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(5 April 2004)

Subject: Caste discrimination

Caste based discrimination affects more than 260 million people worldwide. Caste communities live in physical and social segregation, face gross injustice before the law and have limited access to land, employment, education and health care. The UN Special Rapporteur on Racism stated in his follow-up to the World Conference against Racism that this issue ‘should be given priority in the follow-up to the Durban Conference, in the fight against all forms of discrimination and the promotion of human rights worldwide.’

Recommendations for action to counter caste discrimination have been made at EU level mainly through the European Parliament's resolutions on human rights in the world and its recommendations to the UN Commission on Human Rights sessions. In contrast, it seems that no action has been taken by the Commission or the Council to enhance the political and human rights dialogue with caste afflicted countries on the issue of the continued practice of caste discrimination. Analyses of caste based discrimination are yet to be included in the Council's annual human rights report. Effectiveness of the EU's human rights policy in terms of addressing caste discrimination still remains to be assessed.

Given this continued gross violation of human rights:

— what actions and measures have the Commission set in place to respond to the continued dehumanising practice of caste discrimination;

— what steps have been taken to promote the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on caste discrimination;

— what steps can be taken by the Commission to ensure that references to this enormous human rights problem together with suggestions for remedial measures are made in all relevant EU statements, including its own Country Strategy Reports;

— will caste discrimination be included as an agenda item at forthcoming EU-India summits?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2004)

The Commission is aware of the world-wide problem of caste discrimination in South Asia, and also in Africa. The Commission takes this issue very seriously and has shown a consistent and active commitment to tackling this problem.

Projects fighting discrimination against Dalits are eligible for assistance under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. A Call for Proposals, which was launched on 27 April 2002 under this initiative, specifically addressed the issue of caste discrimination. One of the eligibility criteria was: ‘Discrimination based on caste (i.e. membership by birth of a social group considered inferior to higher social groups, even without ethnic differences, and historically subject to forms of social and labour segregation and discrimination)’.

The Commission expects in the case of India that through its co-operation in the social sectors, especially in elementary education, an important contribution can be made to the progressive elimination of caste-and gender-based discrimination. The Commission firmly believes that by assisting India to reach its Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal elementary education, with a special focus on the ‘hard to reach’ such as children from Dalit and tribal backgrounds, these children will ultimately have better chances of finding positions at all levels of Indian society. All Community co-operation agreements since 1995 include human rights clauses and form the basis for a positive dialogue on human rights concerns. In the EU-India political dialogue, human rights issues are a regular topic in all Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings.

The Commission takes careful note of the Honourable Member's suggestion concerning a Special Rapporteur on caste discrimination. However, the establishment of such a mandate would require the approval of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR).

The Commission continues to make efforts in the CHR and elsewhere, underlining the importance of the fight against racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. For instance, the EU delivers a statement on these issues at the annual sessions of the UNCHR and the UN General Assembly Third Committee.

The Joint EU-India Statement released at the 4th Summit in New Delhi in November 2003 reiterated that democracy provided the best safeguard for the protection and promotion of human rights, and reaffirmed the willingness of both sides to discuss human rights in a comprehensive manner (1). It is expected that this issue will be taken up in the Declaration of the 5th Summit to take place in the second half of 2004. The EU and India have furthermore agreed that democracy and human rights issues be discussed in Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings.

(1) ‘We affirmed that democracy provides a crucial safeguard for protection and promotion of Human Rights. All Human Rights including the right to personal, economic, social and cultural development are universal, indivisible, interdependent and inter-related. We believe in the equal importance of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and are committed to their full realization. International co-operation needs to be harnessed for the protection and promotion of human rights through dialogue and mutual understanding in a comprehensive global framework. We affirmed our willingness to discuss Human Rights in a comprehensive manner.’