A/69/266
Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues
Summary
Persons belonging to minorities are frequently the victims of violence and
atrocities. Violence can take the form of attacks on individuals, their homes, shops or
places of worship, or wider acts of aggression against communities with different
national, ethnic or religious identities. In the worst cases, violence constitutes mass
atrocities, crimes against humanity, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and even genocide,
often perpetrated with impunity. Sometimes violence is committed by non -State
actors, including those belonging to the majority, or larger, more powerful groups,
extremist groups, or even business actors. Sometimes it is perpetrated by State
actors.
A primary objective of the United Nations and most States in the area of pea ce
and stability is to prevent violence before it breaks out. The tragic experiences of
past violence and atrocities have helped to better understand the causes of violence
and the fact that minorities are frequently targets, and to produce indicators to
predict violent incidents and provide early warning. While violence can be difficult
to predict, States too often fail to translate clear early warnings into adequate,
appropriate and timely measures to prevent or stop violence. In order to save lives
and ensure peaceful societies, a high priority of stakeholders at all levels must be to
improve prevention mechanisms and turn early warning into early action.
Essential elements of strategies to better prevent and address violence against
minorities consist of the adoption of measures to foster unity among different
population groups, the comprehensive implementation of minority rights and the
establishment or strengthening of institutional and policy frameworks for the
protection of minority rights. At the national level, good and inclusive governance,
which includes minorities and measures to ensure equality, are key prevention
prerequisites. The international community must also improve its ability to engage
and assist States in efforts to prevent and resolve violence and to effectively
intervene where States fail in their responsibility to protect minorities.
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