BHA: Parliamentary Questions Precede First “World Conference on Untouchability”, in London, June 9 & 10

The first “World Conference on Untouchability” has prompted questions in the House of Commons and the House of Lords about government policy towards the global human rights problem of caste discrimination, which afflicts almost 250 million people in countries from Japan to Nigeria.

The questions were raised by Jeremy Corbyn, MP, and Lord Avebury. Both parliamentarians will speak at the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) conference, to be held at Conway Hall Humanist Centre, London, on June 9 and 10. Other conference speakers include Lord Desai of Clement Danes, Tina Ramirez, United State Congressional Fellow on International Religious Freedom, and S. Anand, British Council Award Winning Publisher.

Untouchability – the social exclusion of people because of the population group they are born into – is a problem in Bangladesh, Burma, India, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Yemen and elsewhere. The IHEU “World Conference on Untouchability” is the first conference of its kind to explore untouchability in many different cultures and traditions. It will bring together political leaders, academics, and grass roots activists to share successful strategies to combat caste discrimination and help victims of Untouchability.

The IHEU “World Conference on Untouchability” is supported by the British Humanist Association and South Place Ethical Society. The conference starts at 9am, Tuesday June 9 and ends at 1pm on June 10. For the final conference programme go to: www.iheu.org/programme-iheu-world-conference-untouchability