"Cut Us Open and See That We Bleed Like Them": Discrimination and Stigmatization of Sanitation Workers in Pakistan

Strategic Insights -

The Pakistan authorities have been criticized for failing to protect sanitation workers from institutionalized religious and caste-based discrimination. A new report by Amnesty International, "Cut Us Open and See That We Bleed Like Them": Discrimination and Stigmatization of Sanitation Workers in Pakistan, documents widespread human rights violations within the sector. Sanitation workers, primarily belonging to "lower-castes" and religious minorities, face discriminatory recruitment and working practices, as well as job insecurity and dangerous working conditions. The report highlights the need for Pakistan to strengthen protections for sanitation workers and commit to ending caste and religion-based discrimination.

Key Takeaways:

  • The report documents how sanitation workers in Pakistan face widespread human rights violations, including discriminatory recruitment and working practices, job insecurity, and dangerous working conditions.
  • Sanitation workers, primarily belonging to "lower-castes" and religious minorities, are subjected to entrenched biases, which lead to their confinement to sanitation work.
  • Amnesty International worked in collaboration with the Center for Law & Justice (CLJ) to engage with over 230 sanitation workers, including 66 respondents to a questionnaire, between February and September 2024 in six cities of Pakistan.
  • The report confirms widespread forms of discrimination and labour rights violations against sanitation workers, which constitutes not only social and economic marginalization but also human rights violations under international law.
  • Isabelle Lassée, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, emphasized the need for Pakistan to urgently take concrete steps to strengthen protections for sanitation workers and commit to ending caste and religion-based discrimination in the country.
  • Amnesty International has highlighted the importance of addressing caste as a structural form of racial discrimination in Pakistan's legal system.

Statistics:

  • Over 230 sanitation workers were engaged with as part of the research conducted by Amnesty International and the Center for Law & Justice (CLJ).
  • 66 respondents to a questionnaire highlighted common concerns among sanitation workers in Pakistan.
  • The research was conducted between February and September 2024 in six cities of Pakistan: Lahore, Bahawalpur, Karachi, Umerkot, Islamabad, and Peshawar.

Sources:

  • Amnesty International -- "Cut Us Open and See That We Bleed Like Them": Discrimination and Stigmatization of Sanitation Workers in Pakistan
  • Isabelle Lassée, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International
  • Center for Law & Justice (CLJ)