TORONTO: The first-ever World Conference for a Caste-Free World, held in Toronto from May 25 to 27, 2025, concluded with a strong call for global action to dismantle caste-based discrimination.
The event, attended by delegates from Nepal, India, Canada, the U.S., the UK, and other countries, issued a 17-point Toronto Declaration demanding the establishment of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRCs) in countries where caste-based systems persist. These commissions, the declaration stated, are essential to address historical injustices and chart a roadmap for the permanent elimination of caste hierarchies.
Despite the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserting that all human beings are born free and equal, the conference emphasized that over 250 million people—including Dalits in South Asia, Burakumin in Japan, Roma across Europe, Haratin in Mauritania, and Quilombolas in Brazil—continue to face structural discrimination based on birth.
In India alone, 57,582 crimes were recorded against Scheduled Castes in 2022, marking a 13% rise from the previous year. In Nepal, caste-based exclusion remains deeply entrenched, with Dalit communities reportedly facing 9 to 14 times more discrimination than dominant castes over the past decade.
The Toronto Declaration proposed several key actions, including the creation of Dalit-led development banks to support traditional artisans and entrepreneurs, the integration of anti-caste education into school curricula, and the establishment of global research centers to document the socio-economic impact of casteism.
It called for a cultural shift, including a review of religious and traditional practices that perpetuate hierarchy, while underscoring the need for inclusive policies and leadership from within Dalit and oppressed communities. The declaration also recommended setting up an international monitoring mechanism to track progress on caste elimination efforts worldwide.
Devraj Bishwakarma, Chair of Nepal’s National Dalit Commission, highlighted the economic cost of caste discrimination, stating that Nepal loses an estimated 10% of its GDP annually—about NPR 600 billion—due to the exclusion of Dalit communities. He cited Nepal Human Rights Reports and other studies showing the gap between constitutional provisions and actual implementation, noting that although Nepal criminalizes caste-based discrimination, enforcement remains weak and victims struggle to get justice and compensation.
Former government secretary Dr. Man Bahadur BK referenced a recent study by the Dignity Initiative, revealing that in Lumbini Province, only 3% of the budget over the past five years was allocated for marginalized communities, who make up 72% of the population. Shockingly, Dalits received only 0.1% of that allocation.
In contrast, Nepal’s Ambassador to Canada, Bharat Raj Paudyal, acknowledged that while Nepal has made progress in addressing caste-based discrimination, more remains to be done. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equal rights and greater political participation for Dalits.
Speakers from across academia, activism, and government echoed the need for global solidarity. Dr. Rajratna Ashok Ambedkar, President of the Buddhist Society of India, emphasized that caste continues to condemn millions to inhumane treatment solely based on birth.
Harvard scholar Dr. Suraj Yengde warned that legal reforms alone are insufficient and called for cultural transformation and intra-community support. Other notable speakers included Dr. Karun Karki, Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, Durga Sob, Dr. Anne Murphy, Dr. David Gellner, and Prof. Uttam Gauli, among others.
Dr. Drona Prakash Rasali, Chair of the organizing committee and representative of the Emotional Wellbeing Institute of Canada, presented research on how caste-based oppression harms public health. Additional speakers from Dalit organizations across the world, including Jai Birdi (Canada), Om Prakash BK Gahtoraj (Nepal), and Dr. Man Bishwakarma (Native Arts Academy, Kathmandu), contributed diverse perspectives.
The conference was jointly organized by Sahyatra-Canada and other institutions across South Asia and North America. Coordinator Santosh Bishwakarma noted that the event helped build international solidarity in the movement to eliminate caste discrimination globally.
