On Wednesday, 30 May, members of a WCC delegation to a preparatory meeting (prepcom) for the UN World Conference, currently being held in Geneva, joined other non-governmental organisations demonstrating in front of the UN building in solidarity with the Dalit people, the so-called "untouchables" of India.

Justice for the Dalits has long been championed by the WCC. The Council considers that, in its context, casteism is the same as racism. Victims of caste discrimination are forced to live in segregated housing and neighbourhoods, suffer exclusion due to prohibitions on inter-dining and inter-marriage, untouchability, discrimination and denial of equal opportunity in public life.

The WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), which holds consultative status with the UN, asserts that "Governments of countries where caste discrimination is widespread should put in place all necessary constitutional, legislative and administrative measures, including appropriate forms of affirmative action, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of caste-bound occupation and descent, and put in place effective legal standards at state and local levels."

But despite considerable efforts, including a Global Conference Against Caste Discrimination held in New Delhi last March with WCC involvement, governments in the UN prepcom have declined to discuss the issue in Geneva and almost certainly in Durban.

There are indications that well over 100 Dalit representatives will nevertheless join the non-governmental (NGO) Forum associated with the UN World Conference. The WCC delegation to that forum will also include Dalit representatives from the churches in India.