Economic and Social Council: Reimagining Equality: Eliminating racism, xenophobia and discrimination for all in the decade of action for the SDGs - Special meeting (2021 ECOSOC)

Statement by Professor Penda Mbow, representative of Stakeholder group of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (SG-CDWD) and member of Global Forum of Communities Discrimination on work and Descent (GFoD)

My name is Professor Penda Mbow, I speak to you today as a representative of the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent. When we discuss eliminating racism, xenophobia, discrimination and related forms of intolerance, it is our imperative to highlight discrimination based on work and descent (or DWD, using its acronym) and its relationship with the perpetuation of contemporary forms of slavery.

Intergenerational caste hierarchies such as Antigypsyism, Untouchability affecting Dalits, modern and traditional form of slavery, which can be seen across the globe, have continued to subjugate those on lower rungs of the ladder to violence, vulnerability, enslavement and discrimination over several generations with limited to absolutely no avenues for social mobility.

Discrimination based on Work and Descent in Africa has been eclipsed by the issue of slavery and child labour. Slavery and DWD have had a parallel existence for different communities, but the latter lacks public recognition and attention. As an activist, my research work with communities in Mauritania, Nigeria, Mali, Ghana, Benin, Niger, and Togo shows that enslavement originates from DWD. This practice also exists in some Asia countries, where caste based ‘untouchability’ against Dalit or Scheduled Caste communities occur. Discrimination, segregation, and exploitation take place under the general umbrella of Discrimination on Work and Descent similar to ‘slavery’ observed in some African countries. I must add that DWD communities are also present in other parts of the world, like the Roma community in Europe and the Quilombola community in Brazil, which demonstrates how much of a global issue this is and in need of immediate response.

As a result of this inherited exclusion, Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent have had limited access to resources, education, health services and development, keeping many in extreme poverty and vulnerable to all forms of exploitation. The inequalities and cultural violence experienced by the DWD communities span all spheres of their lives, whether it is education, hunger alleviation, health, water and sanitation, employment, voting rights, equal access to land and housing, access to places of worship, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and environmental health.

The global pandemic has aggravated racial discrimination. We must reaffirm that no caste or persons trapped in conditions of slavery are left behind. In light of the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs we call on you to monitor communities and persons Discriminated on Work and Descent.

It is long overdue that the member countries make a political commitment to bring forth a UN Declaration for Elimination of Discrimination based on Work and Descent. UN treaty bodies have referred to caste-based discrimination while reviewing the state reports. CESCR, CAT, CERD, CEDAW and CRC have all confirmed that this kind of discrimination falls within the purview of their respective instruments. For too long the discrimination faced by these communities has been pushed aside and never given the concern it most urgently requires. Any attempt at reducing systematic inequality and eliminating racism, including its contemporary manifestations, absolutely must take into consideration Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent.