Indian Delegation Visits Europe to Highlight Slavery Amid Abolition Celebrations

A delegation of Indian activists on behalf of the Dalit (formerly 'untouchable') community will visit London, Brussels, Edinburgh and Oslo during the UK commemorations of the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

During their visit, the activists will highlight the plight of the 250 million-strong Dalit and tribal communities in India, who are the main victims of modern forms of slavery there.

Members of the delegation include Dr Joseph D'souza, the International President of the Dalit Freedom Network (DFN) and President of the All India Christian Council (AICC).

Dr Kancha Ilaiah will also be part of the delegation. Dr Ilaiah is Professor of Political Science and Head of Department at Osmania University, Hyderabad, and is a well-known and well-respected campaigner against caste-based discrimination and the oppression and exploitation of Dalits and 'low' castes.

Also Ms Indira Athawale, a prominent activist for Dalit women's rights, will join the team. She has presented evidence to the US Congress on the oppression of Dalit women. She is the Maharastra State President of the All India Confederation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Organisations, a tutor in two colleges affiliated to the University of Pune and the National President of the Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar Students' Association, a college and university level organisation that brings together 'low' caste students.

Moses Parmar, the North India Director of Operation Mercy Charitable Company, will take his part among the delegation. Mr parmar is a Dalit from Gujarat state, he leads a team of over 1000 people engaged in humanitarian and charitable work across north India, including 23 schools which primarily serve Dalit children, seminars for women on empowerment and legal rights, and dozens of micro-enterprise initiatives.

The delegation will be in Brussels from 19-20 March, the UK from 20-28 March and Norway on 29-30 March. While in the UK, they will be meeting with MPs, peers, religious leaders, the India All Party Parliamentary Group, advisors at the Foreign Office and the Conservative Human Rights Commission.

Members of the delegation will speak at the launch of a new documentary-film, entitled 'India's Hidden Slavery: Caste, Apartheid and Exploitation in the World's Largest Democracy', at the Vue West End Cinema, Leicester Square on Tuesday 27 March 2007. They will also attend the parliamentary launch of the film on Tuesday 20 March 2007.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide's Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, says: "As we reflect on events 200 years ago in the UK, this is a critical time to re-examine modern forms of slavery and the slave trade. It is unrealistic to do this without looking at India, where millions are enslaved or suffer brutal labour exploitation. Perhaps there is more slavery in India than anywhere else in the world today. The victims of these horrific abuses are, overwhelmingly, the outcast Dalits, whose pleas we can ignore no longer."