HUMANISTS TO TACKLE CASTE DISCRIMINATION AND UNTOUCHABILITY IN NIGERIA .

By Leo Igwe

In October, humanists will be meeting in Owerri in Southern Nigeria to explore ways of combating caste discrimination and untouchability in Africa ’s most populous country.

The event, to be held at Imo State University , is organized by the Nigerian Humanist Movement with the support of the International Humanist and Ethical Union- a London based umbrella group of humanist, ethical and freethought groups worldwide.

Caste discrimination is a social disease the affects millions of people around the globe. The Caste system obtains in countries such Cameroun, Gambia, Japan, Nigeria, Senegal, India etc. It accords some human beings inferior- sub-human- status and denies them their fundamental rights and dignity.

In Nigeria , caste discrimination is most pronounced in the South-east where the Osu people are treated as “untouchables” .

Throughout the world, millions of people suffer systematic disability, injustice, oppression, stigmatization, indignity and human rights abuses because of their caste status. This conference is significant because it aims at providing a rational, humanist and human rights based response to this cultural scourge.

One of the reasons why caste discrimination persists is because the practice is sanctioned and reinforced by religious and supernatural beliefs. For instance the Osu people in Nigeria are believed to be those sacrificed to the gods and spirits. While in Gambia , Mali , Niger , Nigeria , Senegal and Somalia , caste system is a product of a social stratification and slave institution introduced by Islamic jihadists. So religion is a major factor and obstacle to the eradication of caste discrimination in the world. This conference, which brings to bear a non religious human centered approach to the caste problem, is a welcome development.

The event holds a lot of hope and promise to the eradication of an obnoxious practice that is sustained by prejudice, ignorance, primitive, irrational and superstitious beliefs.
Caste system is anti human, antediluvian and antithetical to the values of humanism, human rights, modernity and enlightenment. Caste system constitutes one of the greatest obstacles to the realization of universal human rights and the enthronement of human values in this 21st century. Humanists all over the world are working and campaigning to abolish caste discrimination and untouchability, and build a world where all human beings can live in dignity and enjoy their full human rights

Leo Igwe is the executive secretary of the Nigerian Humanist Movement and director of IHEU in West Africa

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