Sunday, March 24, 2013

Debate on Caste Discrimination in the UK on BRIT ASIA TV

Debate on Caste Discrimination in the UK on BRIT ASIA TV

Here's a debate on Caste Discrimination in the UK broadcast on BRIT ASIA TV (21 & 28 February 2013) in advance of the House of Lords (UK) consideration of an Amendment Clause in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, with a bearing on the inclusion of Caste under the definition of Race in the Equality Act 2010. 

My contribution is at minutes 18:34 - 24:42; 30:15 - 31:22; 1:17:15 - 1:21:09. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8OsHyzY7mo&feature=youtu.be

A demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament took place on 4 March 2013 leading to a successful outcome when the Lords voted 256 (Content) and 153 (Not-Content) FOR an Amendment Clause adding 'Caste' under 'Race'. 

Caste discrimination in the UK will be outlawed if the MPs vote for the Amendment Clause, due to be considered by the Commons soon. The Conservatives, on the whole, are against the proposed change in the legislation. 

An Early Day Motion 1183 supporting the Lords majority vote has been tabled by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour Party, Islington North) on 13 March 2013 and currently has the support of 30 MPs. 

Successful lobbying of MPs in the UK is crucial in winning the Commons vote. The Sikh Council UK does NOT support the inclusion of 'Caste' within the Equality Act 2010, nor does the Hindu Council UK, so the battle to win MPs over is hard.

Regards,
Meena

Dr Meena Dhanda (D.Phil. Oxford)

Reader in Philosophy and Cultural Politics

Course Leader Philosophy

Co-Course Leader MRes Human Sciences

School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications

Univeristy of Wolverhampton

Wulfruna Street

Wolverhampton

WV1 1LY

No comments:

Post a Comment