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Beena Johnson first dalit woman to address UN General Assembly

She had discussed the implementation of the 17 SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the second Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, which was held in New York last month.

Beena Johnson, General Secretary, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights / (Image - ENB/Earth Negotiations Bulletin)

The National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) general secretary Beena Johnson recently made history by being the first Dalit woman to address the UN General Assembly.

According to The Wire, Johnson discussed her efforts fighting discrimination while paying honour to her Dalit roots. She expressed, "I belong to the Dalit community and hold a role as a representative within the stakeholder group that advocates for marginalized communities experiencing employment discrimination and limitations on their ability to express dissent."

“If we are serious about making poverty history, we must indulge in the principles of non-discrimination and equitable resource mobilization towards a resilient, inclusive and equitable development,” she added.

Johnson has reportedly worked with NCDHR for the past eleven years, according to the Human Rights Funders Network. She has devoted her time to supporting the economic rights of Dalits.

Her impassioned efforts have been focused on persuading the Central and State governments to reform their policies in favour of marginalised populations, particularly Dalits and Tribals. She has consistently pushed for the participation of Dalit women in policymaking.

Johnson’s principal priority is establishing economic justice, with a focus on gender equity. She also takes part in initiatives linked to fiscal accountability, governance, and targeted budgeting.

She also oversees the Asia Dalit Women's Economic Empowerment Programme, an initiative of the Asia Dalit Rights Forum that aims to empower Dalit women in South Asia, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and India.

 

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