There are approximately 260 million people worldwide who are discriminated against on the basis of work or descent (i.e. familial lineage or social origin). This type of discrimination is primarily characterized by one’s lineage (a type of group membership decided by birth), occupation (associated with the characteristics of one’s job or labor specialization and its functional role within society), and notions of purity and impurity (defilement). Those suffering most from this kind of discrimination include the Dalit (frequently referred to as “untouchables”) of South Asian countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, the Buraku people of Japan, “the caste people” of west Africa, as well as a variety of other communities throughout other African countries. This type of caste discrimination also exists among diasporic Indian communities in Europe and other locations.
Several governments, particularly those of India and Japan, have established administrative mechanisms, in general or constitutional law, aimed at resolving this discrimination.
However, the majority of these mechanisms are insufficiently enforced or insufficiently address the effects of custom in perpetuating discrimination, and many of the people belonging to these groups continue to experience discrimination and social exclusion in their daily lives.
