The two-day 'Nepal Dalit Youth Conference – 2017' organized with the main slogan of participation of Dalit youth in the elimination of caste-based discrimination and 'untouchability' concluded, issuing a 14-point Kathmandu Declaration.
During the discussions, the participants of event demanded political parties to become sensitive toward guaranteeing Dalits' proportional inclusive representation in the discussions of political affairs.
The conference that concluded yesterday decided to make efforts for expanding its relations to the national and international level and to lobby for recognition of all sorts of caste-based discriminations and untouchability by the United Nations as a distinct issue and develop a separate mechanism to address it separately.
The event held discussions on various issues ranging from the role of youth politicians in the elimination of caste-based discriminations, Dalit youth in the implementation of constitutional rights and laws, the role of mass media in achieving Dalit rights.
Over 100 Dalit youths from across the country participated in the conference organized by the Dalit Youth Alliance.
Besides, the conference agreed to monitor the status of implementation of national and international laws and policies against caste-based discrimination and of the principles of human rights and disseminating facts/findings through mass media.
According to Alliance President Chet Narayan Rasaili, the declaration pledged to advocate for making new acts, laws, policies, plans and programs demanded by the constitution Dalit-friendly. Likewise, Dalit youth will coordinate with media to disseminate research-based and analytical news, articles and features about the issues of Dalit.
Dalit youth should organize themselves to make collective efforts against all sorts of caste-based discrimination and untouchability and press authorities concerned for ensuring their participation in the formulation of youth-related policies by the government, asserted President Rasaili, seeking proportional distribution of State specific facilities meant for Dalits among all the Dalit communities in different parts of the country.
Moreover, the conference agreed to draw the attention of all bodies to discourage tendency of underrating capacity and potentiality of the entire Dalit and Dalit youth.
