Norway’s Rafto Prize is awarded to the Indian organisation The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR, for its fights for the rights of Dalits (the casteless).
26/09/2007 :: “We congratulate The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights on being awarded the prestigious 2007 Rafto Prize. This has put the Dalit cause on the agenda,” says Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of International Development Erik Solheim.
The organisation has made a tremendous contribution in promoting human rights in its efforts to highlight discrimination and oppression based on caste.
“The Prize is an important encouragement for all those who are working to improve the situation of Dalits, both in India and in other countries in the region. We hope that the Prize will help to secure justice for this large group of people, and we would like to commend the Indian authorities for increasing the quotas for underprivileged groups in the education system. The fact that India is a democracy is an important factor in giving Dalits an opportunity to fight for their rights. The organisation’s activities help to strengthen and deepen this democracy,” said Mr Støre and Mr Solheim.
The Rafto Prize is presented annually in memory of the Norwegian Professor Thoralf Rafto. The Rafto foundation was established in 1986 and is responsible for presenting the prestigious human rights award. The foundation was founded in a humanistic tradition, and its aim is to strengthen international work on human rights.
Dalits children. Photo: Timothy Gill.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs