Global Forum against Caste-based Discrimination

 Rationale:

Caste based discrimination is an elicit form of practice persisting in different parts of the globe.  More than 260 million people around the globe especially in south Asia are still suffering from caste based discrimination. The caste based discrimination directly impacts to Dalit community, who are often identified as marginalized, historically disadvantaged community, broken people and backward community as its differs by its origin in specific regions or a country. The socio-economical, political and religious reproduction of caste based discrimination has resulted Dalit to fall into least developed human category and survive a servitude form of life. There are several organizations and activists working for the elimination of this sadistic practice, however it has not been effective in its end results. As it is deeply rooted, it requires a blow of national and international action to wipe out discrimination from that society which still practices it. The people from different professions living in overseas realize an importance of global forum to increase the solidarity against discrimination movement globally considering the impacts of multidimensional efforts.

Name:

The name of the forum is Global Forum against Caste-based Discrimination. GFAD will be used as an abbreviated form of this forum.

Secretariat Office:

The office of the secretariat will be established in Washington DC, USA (In DC metro Area)

Legal Status:

This forum will be a non-profit organization based on the rules and regulation of United State of America (USA); however its national chapters will be operated by the specific rules of those countries. It will actively provide the solidarity to all kinds of discrimination particularly caste based discrimination around the globe.

Vision:  

Establishment of an equitable society where people can live with dignity

Mission:

Performing role of international network, watchdog on the human right issues, and a campaigner for the empowerment and mainstreaming of Dalit issues.

Goal:

Eliminate the caste based discrimination and other discretionary practices to establish an equitable society.

Objectives:

• Contribute and help through the policies and program intervention to the National and International governmental institutions particularly to develop that policy/program against Caste baste Discrimination.
• Provide and seek solidarity on the rights based movement in global level.
• Empower and mobilize affected community to establish their human rights and social justice.
• Provide humanitarian support to the affected community.
• Identify & mobilize the internal and external resources against the campaign of caste based discrimination related interventions.

Activities:

• Advocacy Programs: Policy lobbying through media (print/electronic) and Research and study
• Empowerment: Training, Exposure Visit, Orientation, Seminar, Conference  etc.
• Networking & Relation Building: Visit, Meeting, Research, Campaign, Solidarity.
• Mobilize the national and international resources to eliminate caste based discrimination.

Membership:

There will be three types of membership:

• Founder Member: refers to the members who are involved in the initial period of its registration.
• General Member: who accepts the policies, guideline of the Forum can get the general membership of this forum.
• Life member: H/she who has more contribution to the right based movement or s/he provides financial contribution as indicated by the rules. Executive Board shall have rights to provide the life membership based on qualification of applicants. It will be open to all people for the application of life membership in this forum.
• Institutional Member– Organizations which working in any countries on the issues of marginalized community , they can apply for  Membership.

Eligibility for the general membership:

• All the interested people who have experience on right based movement and want to follow the policies of forum h/she will be eligible for the membership of Forum.
• Executive board provides the membership to qualified people.
• The qualification and criteria for the membership will be developed by Executive Board and approved by council meeting

Governing structure:

The constituent bodies of the forum are the General Convention, Council, Executive board and Secretariat.

General Convention (GC):

The Forum shall organize the General convention in each 3 years. The major responsibility of general convention is as followings.

• General convention will be the highest body of the Forum. It will formulate new policies and strategies.
• Review the policies of Forum and provide the necessary feedback.
• Provide necessary feedback based on the progress update of every 3 years.
• Elect a new Executive Board through election if required.

The Council (TC):

• The council will be second largest body as represented from different countries. There will be around 25-30 council members for its first 3 years term.
• Executive Board will nominate the council members for its first 3 years term which will be approved by general meeting.
• The council shall meet at least once a year to review the progress reports shared by EB and develop the Forum’s future policies and program.
• Council will form different thematic working group according to its need.
• The council will monitor the activities of EB and   provides the necessary feedback. It will approve the annual action plan and budget.
• Council can approve the resignation of any member of EB and fulfill the vacancies in consultation with EB.

The Executive Board (EB):

General convention will nominate at least 11 members as Executive Board (EB) for its first three year term. However, nominated members shall have rights to resign from their post if they are not ready to serve the forum as per its rules and regulation. The resignation will be approved by Executive Board and fulfill the vacant position. EB has following responsibilities.

• Implement the approved policies and program.
• Monitoring the human right violation and provide the feedback to international bodies / government, and related stakeholder.
• Organize advocacy activities to safeguard the rights of disadvantaged community in affected countries.
• Take initiation for fundraising for Forum’s activities.
• Extend the Forum’s network to the related stakeholders particularly to eliminate the caste cased discrimination.
• Develop and implement the internal administrative policies, good governance strategy and guideline.
• Organize meeting at list twice years.
• EB can make a secretariat for day to day function and provide some authorities to secretariat.
• Manage its secretariat, appoint the necessary staffs and mobilize them.

Advisory Board:

A advisory board will be formed that will advise executive board for its policy formulation, strategy and program etc. Advisory board will formed by council. Advisory board will invite EB Chair and General Secretary in its meeting.

Amendment:

The Forum may amend its policies by the majority vote of the members of EB. However, it should be accepted by the council meeting and general meeting.

Bylaws:

The Forum’s council shall have power to promulgate such bylaw as it consider necessary for the effective operation within its framework.