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Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- In its work in the field the United Nations has developed some excellent practice with regard to minority issues. However, there is no mechanism for or consistent practice of ensuring that minority issues are mainstreamed across the in-country work of entities in the United Nations system, in accordance with article 9 of the Declaration, even in countries where those issues are at the core of local conflicts. At the Headquarters level, in the Department of Political Affairs and in the UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, know-how on minority rights could be enhanced to facilitate the development of policies and practices sensitive to minorities. Appropriate training programmes and resources are required for staff throughout the United Nations system, to assist in the early identification by decision makers at the highest level of tensions involving minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- Institutional attention to minority issues is essential to changing the exclusionary practices and discriminatory perceptions about minority groups in wider society that may be institutionalized. Activities should therefore be focused not solely on minorities, but rather on all sectors of society. Coordinated institutional approaches should engage minorities, majority communities, and civil society as key stakeholders. Institutional measures should serve to mainstream minority issues within all relevant institutions and promote diversity and equality in all areas of public life.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- When they have easy access to institutions providing channels of complaint and remedy, including in their own languages, minorities are more likely to engage such bodies, and bring complaints of discrimination, which too often go unreported and unchallenged. Institutional attention to minority issues conveys a positive message to minorities, namely, that government recognizes their issues and concerns, and is committed to finding solutions to challenges involving minorities; and it also helps to instil confidence within communities. This may be particularly important in times of political and social upheaval, or administrative or regime change, or following conflict involving or impacting upon minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- The full and effective participation of minorities is fundamental to the realization of minority rights and a key objective of national institutional attention to minorities. Effective attention can be achieved only with the participation of minorities, both as staff and as partners in the work of institutions addressing minority issues. It should always be remembered that minorities are members of society and should have their full say on issues involving all aspects of society, and not only on those issues of particular minority concern. In cases where they do not have that say, institutional attention to minority rights and minority issues is a means of enhancing their participation in all aspects of the economic, social and political life and development of their countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Nevertheless, a reasonable degree of accommodation of smaller and lesser-used languages should be provided. Modalities to support small or dispersed linguistic communities must be considered and can include support for informal language classes within or outside the public education structures and ensuring consultation with cultural associations representing linguistic minorities to assess and respond to specific needs. Factors such as voluntary and forced migration, conflict, climate change, and the opening of borders, for example across the Europe Union member States, are creating ever more diverse ethnic and linguistic societies in which language rights and needs must be taken into account.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- While resources available to a State are a factor, Governments must nevertheless fulfil their obligations to the best of their ability for all linguistic minorities. Numerous cost-effective methods are available to fulfil language rights, including translation of key information, web-based resources targeted at minorities, and policies of promoting training of minorities and their recruitment at national and local levels in public institutions. The use of minority mediators is a positive practice utilized by some States to improve communication with minorities. It may also be appropriate to encourage and facilitate cross-border cooperation, for example where a linguistic minority has a neighbouring or kin State with a shared language tradition.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- Minority languages are declining at a worrying rate in all regions. In some cases that decline reflects a process of language loss which is almost irreversible, due to factors such as globalization and processes of assimilation and cultural dilution. However, in many cases, the disappearance of minority languages is a failure of protection of the rights of minority communities who wish to maintain their languages, as well as a tragedy for a nation’s cultural and linguistic heritage and diversity. Long-term data collection and analysis helps to reveal the relative health of minority languages and the growth or decline of language use and is essential for the preservation of some threatened languages.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- Conditions of detention or imprisonment, and the relevant staff, should reasonably accommodate the cultural, dietary, religious and linguistic characteristics of minority prisoners.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- In terms of disasters, all actors should strive to mitigate the adverse impact of natural hazards on communities, for example through effective disaster risk reduction and mitigation measures, especially in areas prone to recurrent disasters, through including minorities in disaster risk reduction programmes from the outset. Overall, the Special Rapporteur notes that much can be done to anticipate and address the needs of at risk minorities during catastrophic events. Adequate planning will go far to minimize the extent to which these groups suffer disproportionately and experience devastating outcomes. Responsible emergency preparedness and response efforts that incorporate a minority rights approach, ensuring that minority voices can raise their concerns and opinions regarding relief and recovery efforts, can be critical to preventing disasters from having a disproportionate impact on, or further ravaging the lives of minority communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 125
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur acknowledges that further in-depth studies of caste-affected communities, particularly outside of South Asia, are needed in order to comprehensively assess the situation of and specific challenges facing such groups and implement adequate measures to combat caste-based discrimination that affects them. To that end, the collection of data disaggregated by, inter alia, caste, sex, ethnicity, religion and language is essential to adequately map affected groups in caste-affected countries. Data collection programmes should allow for diverse forms of self-identification and comply with international standards regarding the right to privacy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that similarly, United Nations staff in all offices and entities, particularly in the field, should better reflect the national, ethnic and religious make-up of the societies in which they operate. With established, strong networks of consultation with minorities and trust-building efforts between United Nations offices and minority communities, the Organization will be better equipped to fulfil its vital role in recognizing and responding to early warning signs of intercommunal tensions and be better prepared to prevent mass atrocity crimes and genocide, of which minorities are the most frequent targets.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has repeatedly emphasized that the collection and statistical analysis of disaggregated data on minorities are crucial to obtain important baseline information on the actual situation and status of minority communities. Such data would allow for adequate policy responses to minority issues, including the establishment and monitoring of targeted actions and programmes to prevent and address poverty, exclusion and discrimination. The Special Rapporteur urges States to collect data disaggregated on the basis of, inter alia, gender, ethnicity, language and religious affiliation. Individuals should be able to self-identify and express multiple identities. Data collection should be periodic and comply with international standards of privacy and personal data protection.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- Minorities remain among the poorest and the most socially and economically excluded and marginalized communities globally, yet targeted attention to their situations is lacking. The Special Rapporteur believes that the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, although it failed to include an explicit reference to minorities, provides important momentum for their inclusion in the actions to be undertaken for its implementation. She firmly believes that the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda can only be achieved by taking into consideration the situation of minorities, and calls on States to fulfil in practice the principle of leaving no one behind.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- Education curricula should avoid stereotypes and provide a realistic and non-discriminatory image of all communities within society. States should ensure that members of minorities are able to adopt the necessary measures to ensure the protection and promotion of their identity, such as providing mother tongue education and religious education. Education at all levels should have the goal of enabling members of minorities to compete on an equal footing for jobs and other opportunities while preserving their distinct identities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 110
- Paragraph text
- Communications between the human rights institutions in Geneva and the peace and security institutions in New York should be strengthened further. Regular communications at a working level between the country desk officers of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and their colleagues in the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations would promote the sharing of information and common understanding of minority rights situations in countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- As the Secretary-General affirmed in his report, early warning does not equate with early action (A/64/864, para. 19). States and international organizations remain reluctant to take action until violence has started. That is regrettable. Too much of the engagement of the international community is too late on the conflict continuum that spans from grievances to violence. As conflict situations escalate, the human costs on the ground and the political and financial costs to the international community escalate exponentially.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Minority communities are not homogenous and it is important to understand the challenges facing those, including women, children and the elderly, whose needs, perceptions and expectations may vary. Older people, who may be first-generation immigrants, may have stronger linguistic and cultural ties than young people who have been brought up and educated in their country of residence. They may face greater challenges in learning and adapting to the national language and require culturally sensitive, affordable and accessible assistance.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- The relationship between inequality, discrimination and poverty cannot be ignored or underestimated. Tens of millions of people worldwide are trapped in a cycle of discrimination, exclusion, poverty and underdevelopment from which they cannot break out without targeted attention given to their situations. It is imperative that the United Nations and others, as they move forward to craft a new set of development objectives and targets, addresses the inequalities faced by national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- In this regard, the Special Rapporteur believes that the international community must better recognize the vulnerability of minorities in crisis situations, develop more targeted strategies and invest more to respond to them. Although the identification of minority groups in a situation of crises might be difficult, protection mechanisms, including humanitarian assistance programmes, need to be designed in a way which addresses their specific needs and enable these groups to avoid undue disparate impacts as well as retain their identity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur particularly encourages OHCHR to launch an awareness-raising and action campaign, including through the United Nations network on racial discrimination and the protection of minorities, on the occasion of the two anniversaries. Such a campaign should advocate for better mainstreaming of minority rights across United Nations departments and agencies and could highlight the most important emerging issues and best practices to assist Member States in strengthening their minority rights protection efforts.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- Predicting and preventing violence must not remain an academic exercise. Post-violence analysis has helped to develop indicators and improve the potential to raise alarms and trigger early warning mechanisms; however, analysis conducted after violence has begun means that the action taken is often too little and too late. The lessons of past atrocities must be put into practice when the warning signs are clear and, even when they are not, States must become more capable of responding to them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 108
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that there are several non-legal ways and means to tackle hate speech. Public condemnation of hate speech by political leaders, parliamentarians, party members, other public figures and community leaders can shape public perceptions and contribute to unity and social cohesion. Democratic political parties need to find effective tools and outreach strategies to counterbalance hate messages spread by extremist forces and parties.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- States should pay particular attention to the ways in which memory and mourning processes related to the Roma Holocaust are framed, collected and disseminated, including through the media and formal and informal education systems. In this regard, she recalls the importance of including Roma in all such endeavours, including at all official ceremonies commemorating victims of the Second World War.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- Substantial steps have been taken over recent years to reposition international engagement with conflict situations from the point of reaction to a point of identification of early warnings. There is mounting evidence that one of the earliest indicators of potential violence is the chronic disregard of minority rights. Early warning systems must have the necessary expertise to be alert to such indicators. While there is already a substantial flow of information to early warning mechanisms within the United Nations system, a focus on minority rights should be strengthened.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Priorities for the work of the Independent Expert and the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 2012, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- Recalling that 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the independent expert urges all stakeholders, including United Nations Member States, civil society and minorities themselves to undertake efforts and initiatives to increase awareness of the Declaration amongst all people within their respective States and regions, and to actively promote its implementation and the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons belonging to minority communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 91g
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert provides the following broad recommendations to national Governments and the international community:] In multi-faith societies, efforts to build a climate of trust, understanding, acceptance and interfaith cooperation and exchange benefit the whole of society and are essential elements of good governance and measures to prevent grievances, tensions and conflict. The active engagement and leadership of religious, community and political actors is essential to such efforts and should be encouraged and supported, including through the establishment of formal and informal mechanisms for dialogue, exchanges of views and consideration of interfaith and intercommunity initiatives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- The Independent Expert calls upon States Members of the United Nations to provide her with information relating to the national protection of linguistic minority rights and minority languages, including legislation, policy and practices. She particularly wishes to be informed of positive practices to protect and promote the rights of linguistic minorities. She encourages linguistic minorities and non-governmental organizations to provide her with information about their situations and challenges relating to minority-language use and their proposals for solutions to challenges.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- The post-2015 framework of new goals should be based on human rights, including minority rights as established in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, and the principles of equality, non-discrimination and participation. A focus on disadvantaged minorities and specific minority groups, including Roma, people of African Descent, Dalits, and disadvantaged religious and linguistic minorities worldwide would potentially bring much needed development attention to millions of the most excluded and impoverished peoples globally.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- The need for disaggregated data to reveal the inequalities experienced by persons belonging to minority groups remains essential and national efforts to collect and analyse such data should be enhanced and assisted by the international community. Disaggregated data are needed across all goals and in relation to such crucial areas as education, employment, health, and household income. Such data not only allows inequalities to be identified, they assist in the design of appropriate targeted solutions and in the monitoring and evaluation of progress towards achieving goals for minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 106
- Paragraph text
- Legislation must fully respect the right to freedom of speech and expression and avoid any arbitrary or abusive interpretation of anti-hate speech laws. States should establish proportionate thresholds for the assessment of forms of expression which may amount to incitement to hatred, including careful consideration, on a case-by-case basis, of the context, speaker, intent, content, extent or magnitude and likelihood or probability of harm occurring. Legislation prohibiting incitement to hatred should provide effective and adequate remedies to victims, including civil remedies for damages, and guarantee the right of correction and reply.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure that individuals are not selected for identity checks, questioning, stops and searches, surveillance or other policing measures solely or primarily on the basis of their membership in a minority. Use by the police of their power to conduct identity checks or to stop and search individuals should be based on the requirement of individualized suspicion; and the use of broader preventive powers should be strictly circumscribed. Police should be required to record the reason for stopping, questioning or searching any person and to provide the person with a copy of the record.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- The current global humanitarian context is alarming. Ongoing and protracted conflicts are leading to massive displacement crises: there are unprecedented numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, and inter-ethnic and interracial tensions and conflict are erupting in nearly every region of the world. Many conflicts threaten to further deteriorate, and new conflicts are emerging. These conflicts are often rooted in power struggles, identity politics, competition for resources, rising income disparities and socioeconomic inequalities, and increasing polarization of societies, making national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities particularly vulnerable; indeed many of the persons who flee their countries for fear of persecution are members of minority groups targeted precisely because of their minority identity. Furthermore, with the impact of climate change, disasters are becoming all too frequent and widespread, further affecting minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- This means that the humanitarian system needs to make a concerted effort to ensure that their responses meet people who are hard to reach and address the specific needs of minority communities. Efforts need to take into account the vulnerability of minorities to displacement and multiple forms of discrimination during crises, as well as the specific challenges facing minorities affected by crises owing to their very situation as minorities, including through paying particular attention to a range of issues, notably, security and safety; documentation; standard of living; livelihood and employment; education; housing, land and property issues and the particular status of minority women and girls. Attention also needs to be paid to those most vulnerable within minority communities, including women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and youth among others.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 130
- Paragraph text
- Comprehensive national action plans and budgets to combat discrimination based on caste and analogous systems should be urgently developed and implemented in caste-affected countries. Plans should have clear objectives and measures in a wide range of areas, including poverty reduction strategies, employment, health, housing, education and access to basic services, including water and sanitation. They should include specific attention to the issues of caste-affected women, be developed in coordination with affected groups and local organizations working with them and be provided with sufficient funding. Their progress should be regularly monitored.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 103
- Paragraph text
- Next year also marks the tenth anniversary of the creation of the Forum on Minority Issues. This will provide a unique opportunity to discuss how to strengthen and support the functioning of this unique and global platform to facilitate dialogue and address relevant issues pertaining to minorities. The Forum should be provided with the necessary resources to fully implement its mandate. The Special Rapporteur encourages consideration to be given to raising the Forum's profile at the regional and international levels, following up the implementation of its recommendations, fostering ownership of the Forum's agenda by minorities and promoting a more interactive dialogue and discussions during the Forum's sessions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- As the Secretary-General affirmed in his report, early warning does not equate with early action (A/64/864, para. 19). States and international organizations remain reluctant to take action until violence has started. That is regrettable. Too much of the engagement of the international community is too late on the conflict continuum that spans from grievances to violence. As conflict situations escalate, the human costs on the ground and the political and financial costs to the international community escalate exponentially.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- States should collect disaggregated data concerning the access of all sectors of society to economic opportunities and political decision-making. Data should be disaggregated by ethnicity and gender to highlight patterns of inequality that have an impact on minority women in different ways than on minority men. Data collection programmes should be designed with the involvement of representatives of minority communities, should allow for diverse forms of self-identification and should provide effective guarantees of data protection.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- Education curricula should avoid stereotypes and provide a realistic and non-discriminatory image of all communities within society. States should ensure that members of minorities are able to adopt the necessary measures to ensure the protection and promotion of their identity, such as providing mother tongue education and religious education. Education at all levels should have the goal of enabling members of minorities to compete on an equal footing for jobs and other opportunities while preserving their distinct identities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- United Nations country teams should analyse the extent to which discrimination on ethnic, religious and linguistic grounds creates disparities in outcomes relating to their programming. Country teams should promote and support the collection of disaggregated data on minorities. All existing programmes should be assessed and revised based on that analysis. Minority communities should participate fully at all stages of programming from research and design to monitoring and evaluation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- Nevertheless, in the majority of countries where disaggregated data are lacking, Governments, national institutions and development actors, as well as United Nations specialized agencies, are generally well aware of which communities are the most excluded, marginalized and impoverished - frequently disadvantaged minority communities. Consequently, lack of statistical evidence and data must not be used to justify lack of attention to the needs of disadvantaged minority groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 129
- Paragraph text
- States should conduct awareness-raising campaigns at the national and local levels, targeting both affected communities and the wider public to sensitize them against caste discrimination and analogous forms of such discrimination. These campaigns should inform the public about the various manifestations, legal prohibitions and penalties associated with caste discrimination, and victims should be informed of their rights and available means of legal recourse to bring to light caste-based discriminatory practices and obtain redress.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- An early focus on the protection of minority rights at the national and international levels prior to the point when grievances harden into violence would make a substantial contribution towards their protection. In that regard, it may be instructive to evaluate and learn from the relatively successful experience of mainstreaming awareness of the issues of indigenous peoples across the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- United Nations staff working on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, particularly those working on policy, analysis and early warning and in country teams, should receive comprehensive minority rights training. The United Nations System Staff College, within the framework of the newly established Conflict Prevention Analysis for Action Network, should consider developing modules focused on minorities to improve the understanding of those issues among staff.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 107
- Paragraph text
- United Nations country teams should analyse the extent to which discrimination on ethnic, religious and linguistic grounds creates disparities in outcomes relating to their programming. Country teams should promote and support the collection of disaggregated data on minorities. All existing programmes should be assessed and revised based on that analysis. Minority communities should participate fully at all stages of programming from research and design to monitoring and evaluation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 108
- Paragraph text
- Effective steps should be taken to ensure that the national staff composition of the United Nations country teams is inclusive of persons from minority communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- States should involve members of all minority groups in conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- Minorities have the right to use their own language, irrespective of its legal status, and provisions should be made to enable minorities to learn and be taught in their mother tongue as well as the official State languages. Models of bilingual education have been demonstrated to be particularly valuable and should be implemented by States in all regions. Positive models of integration are not only about the integration of minority communities into wider society. It is a positive practice to not only encourage minorities to learn and become proficient in the national language, but also to encourage members of majority populations to learn minority languages.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- The growth of the Internet and web-based information has made dramatic changes in the ways that people communicate and use and transmit language. In the globalization of communication and media that has taken place, some languages dominate, a phenomenon that may also be seen at the national level. The challenge to ensure that all population groups can benefit equally requires solutions that include the packaging of information in minority languages and provision of low-cost access for all. The Internet clearly also has the potential to assist in the preservation, dissemination and teaching of minority languages.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- States should collect comprehensive and disaggregated data with regard to the involvement of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in all aspects of the criminal justice system. Anonymous statistics should be accessible for analysis by government, academic, civil society and regional and international organizations, for the purpose of enabling them to design measures for eliminating discrimination and increasing effective participation in the entire administration of justice. Data should be collected on the basis of individual self-identification and consent (wherever possible) and use should respect the need for personal data and privacy protection, including through anonymization and time limits on retention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur takes note of efforts to fight anti-Roma discrimination and address Roma marginalization and disadvantage. However, while positive developments and good practices have been identified, her global study has revealed the deep-rooted problems of racism and extreme marginalization experienced by Roma worldwide, and has highlighted the ongoing invisibility of many of these communities' struggles. Her report has also exposed the underlying structural discrimination that Roma face, including the interrelation between anti-Gypsyism and the socioeconomic marginalization and political exclusion that Roma experience.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- There is a need for integrated approaches that combine measures in different policy areas, strengthen political will at the national and local levels in particular and build mutual trust and an openness to learn from past mistakes. Inclusion programmes should not be limited to material improvements; they should also contribute to the empowerment of both urban and rural Roma communities, strengthen dedicated institutional attention to Roma rights and encourage Roma leadership in order to break the vicious cycle of discrimination and marginalization. Such programmes should ensure that Roma groups most at risk of discrimination and/or social and economic exclusion are also targeted and empowered.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is gravely concerned at the limited, or often complete lack, of a minority presence in political and public offices. She has repeatedly stressed throughout her tenure the need to ensure that minorities are included in all decision-making processes, including in municipal and government structures, law enforcement bodies, the judiciary, legislative bodies, criminal justice systems and all authorities, especially when their decisions affect minorities. Without their participation, such bodies are less able to take vital decisions for the benefit of the entire society and may be less trusted by minorities, who may be reluctant to access them, or discouraged from doing so. Moreover, good and inclusive governance, which includes minorities and measures to ensure equality, are key conflict-prevention prerequisites. Good governance includes legal, administrative and territorial arrangements that allow for peaceful and constructive group accommodation on the basis of equality in dignity and rights for all and that allows for the necessary pluralism to enable the persons belonging to the different groups to preserve and develop their identity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- Legal frameworks on minority rights are essential but not sufficient to guarantee the actual implementation of the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Dedicated institutional attention in the form of specialized mechanisms at all levels need to be put in place to facilitate legislative and policy development and the design, implementation and monitoring of minority-related programmes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- Positive change in the situations of disadvantaged minorities can be provided by appropriate institutional attention to minority rights and a policy and programme framework within which to address minority issues. Legislative protection of minority rights in national law is an essential foundation; and the logical next step, from legislation to concrete action for the protection and promotion of minority rights, is provided by institutional attention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- Targeted affirmative action policies for addressing the economic and social exclusion of minorities, including specific social and economic development plans for marginalized groups and the regions in which they live are required. Where appropriate, dedicated institutional attention should be given to minorities in the States where they live, including through designated ministries, departments or units, focal points, ombudspersons, commissions etc in order for national action plans to be implemented with the necessary attention given to minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- States should take measures to monitor hate speech and incitement to violence against Roma, including in the media and social media, and respond appropriately, including by prosecuting perpetrators. States should collect data on hate crimes against Roma. Such data should include the reporting, investigation, prosecution and sentencing of the crimes. The data should be made publicly accessible, while respecting the right to privacy, in order to assist the development of policies to combat hate crimes against Roma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur thus urges all relevant stakeholders to think outside the "poverty paradigm" and incorporate all aspects of minority rights into strategies that address Roma disadvantage, including the protection and promotion of Roma identity, language and culture and the guarantee of dignity and equality. Such programmes should guarantee that the specific needs of Roma women, as well as Roma with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, young people and older persons are heard and addressed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- LGBTQI+
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 110
- Paragraph text
- Media outlets should maintain the highest standards of ethical journalism, avoid stereotyping of individuals and groups and report in a factual and impartial manner. Media outlets should adopt codes of ethics and conduct for the exercise and promotion of ethical standards. The participation of minority professionals in media outlets in all roles and levels is essential to ensuring objective and non-stereotypical portrayal of minorities. Media outlets should implement programmes to train, recruit and support media workers belonging to minority groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- Minority rights-based approaches require concrete policy measures and positive actions by the State to create substantive equality in all areas and to protect and promote the rights of religious minorities. The broad scope of international legal requirements for religious minorities contrasts sharply with the multiple restrictions that States impose and which even risk the viable continuity of religious minorities at the national level.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- The views of young people from minority communities must be taken into account. While young people face different challenges and have different perceptions of their identity, and some may have weaker commitments to minority language and culture, many have a strong desire to maintain their language. They may wish to find new opportunities and expressions of their cultures and identity, for example in the arts, music and theatre, and those needs must be accommodated to the fullest extent possible.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Youth
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- States should involve members of all minority groups in conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and effective political participation: a survey of law and national practices 2010, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- Effective participation in decision-making processes, particularly in those which have an impact on minorities, is a precondition for the full and equal enjoyment of the human rights of persons belonging to them. There are at least two key lessons to be drawn. The first is the truly essential nature of the right to effective participation: the fulfilment of so many other fundamental human rights is both dependent on and a prerequisite for its fulfilment. The second lesson is that the effectiveness of the political participation of minorities must constantly be evaluated and at all levels of society, in order to ensure that it is real and meaningful. A full set of recommendations can be found in document A/HRC/13/25.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 91a
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert provides the following broad recommendations to national Governments and the international community:] All States should fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities with due and dedicated attention to the situation of religious minorities present in the country. In accordance with the Declaration, attention to religious minorities should include, but go beyond, freedom of religion or belief. A minority rights-based approach is required that is comprehensive in scope and that recognizes that religious minorities may require special attention and positive measures to ensure the full enjoyment of their rights to non-discrimination and equality in all aspects of society - civil, cultural, economic, political and social;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 91b
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert provides the following broad recommendations to national Governments and the international community:] The provisions of the Declaration should be translated by States into national legislation, and dedicated attention to religious minorities should be reflected in the national institutional frameworks for the protection of human rights, including line ministries and governmental departments, national human rights institutions and consultative bodies and mechanisms. Existing legislation should be reviewed to ensure that no provisions exist that are discriminatory or have a discriminatory impact, directly or indirectly, on persons belonging to religious minorities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- The challenges experienced by linguistic minorities are diverse and differ significantly according to their specific circumstances and legal and policy conditions in their countries of residence. Some linguistic minorities are well integrated, able to use their languages in public and private freely and find an accommodation of their language rights and needs in administration, education and service provision. For others, lack of official recognition or language policy and programmes for linguistic minorities results in an environment in which there is little or no provision made for minority languages. In some countries linguistic minorities may live mainly in rural or remote regions where their community interactions are always in minority languages but their children’s education is only in the national or official State language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- The Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other international standards clearly establish the rights of linguistic minorities and the duties upon States. While they do not require that a State provide all activities and services in every language present within the State, in its assessment of how to fulfil its obligations, each State must take into account numerous factors relevant to linguistic minorities, including the number of language users and their distribution within the country. Each State can decide on approaches to how it implements the Declaration in practice, and it is reasonable to consider that greater attention and resources will be dedicated to certain traditionally present, commonly spoken, or geographically concentrated languages, for example, than are given to relatively newly established languages with few or dispersed users.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- Globally, grievances and tensions relating to language rights and the rights of linguistic minorities have emerged and have even led to conflict. Restriction on the rights to use minority languages freely may be, or may be interpreted as, a threat to minority identity. It is important to acknowledge that issues relating to linguistic minorities and their rights may have implications for security and national stability. Protection of linguistic minority rights is a human rights obligation and an essential component of good governance, efforts to prevent tensions and conflict, and the construction of equal and politically and socially stable societies. To create unity in diversity requires dialogue with all stakeholders, including on how to appropriately accommodate the language needs and rights of all groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 112
- Paragraph text
- National human rights institutions should consider establishing a specific mechanism dedicated to addressing the rights of minorities, including within the criminal justice system.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- It is essential to recognize how, in the longer term, hate speech and incitement can endanger social cohesion and create or deepen intercommunal divides and tensions. Action to address hate speech and hate crime must engage majority communities, including politicians, intellectuals, celebrities and ordinary people concerned about discrimination and hatred in their societies, to join marginalized and disadvantaged minorities in demanding human rights, equality and human dignity for all. Such coordinated action must include legislative steps and swift and efficient social responses. If hate incidents are not tackled quickly and effectively, targeted groups may experience permanent damage to their self-esteem and sense of belonging within their societies, increasing their marginalization. Majority communities may gradually become desensitized to the hostility in their societies targeted against minority groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- Places of detention should be subject to unannounced visits by independent bodies which include adequate representation of minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure that minority accused receive legal assistance, including free-of-charge assistance where necessary, without discrimination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 105
- Paragraph text
- Discrimination against minorities in jury selection procedures should be explicitly prohibited.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- To this end, the collection of data disaggregated by ethnicity, religion and language is essential to adequately map affected groups in humanitarian crises and natural disasters. Data collection programmes should allow for diverse forms of self-identification and comply with international standards regarding the right to privacy. Furthermore, national authorities should collect and share data on all causes of displacement in their country. Equality and anti discrimination laws and legal protection of minorities, and other potentially vulnerable groups should be in place and include provisions relating to the prohibition of unlawful displacement.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 103
- Paragraph text
- In particular, the international community should continue to support national Governments' humanitarian response capacity, through training, technical assistance, financial commitments, with a view to strengthening national protection and response mechanisms on minorities in situations of crises; addressing the immediate humanitarian and protection needs of affected minorities; and promoting durable solutions for affected minorities. Just as humanitarian agencies have gender focal points and gender policies, it could be useful to establish similar organizational structure and policies for minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- Next year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. This anniversary constitutes a reminder of and a crucial opportunity to strengthen international standards on minority rights protection. The Special Rapporteur encourages United Nations offices and agencies, Member States and civil society and minority representatives to organize specific initiatives to mark this important anniversary to further promote awareness of the Declaration and to use the opportunity to revisit specific issues most relevant to minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- Communications between the human rights institutions in Geneva and the peace and security institutions in New York should be strengthened further. Regular communications at a working level between the country desk officers of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and their colleagues in the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations would promote the sharing of information and common understanding of minority rights situations in countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- The international donor community should clearly recognize the need to give attention to disadvantaged minorities and ensure that, at the global level, this is reflected in the process of developing a new set of development goals and in the goals themselves. At the national level, donors should ensure that sufficient resources are provided to States to support their activities and are directed towards projects and programmes meeting the needs of the most disadvantaged minority communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 103
- Paragraph text
- National human rights institutions should put in place specific mechanisms to address Roma issues and recruit and retain Roma staff. They are encouraged to develop outreach programmes that increase Roma participation in political, economic, social and cultural life. They should ensure that Roma are both involved in and have access to their programmes, including complaint mechanisms, and ensure that materials are available in the Romani language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 136
- Paragraph text
- Specific measures should be developed to tackle discrimination, including on the grounds of caste, in all development and disaster recovery actions and programming. Implementation of caste-analysis methodology in the humanitarian assistance framework to adequately identify affected communities, as well as the implementation mechanisms to ensure that humanitarian relief is equally distributed, is fundamental to prevent caste-based discrimination from being replicated in humanitarian response actions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- Hatred is often constructed, fuelled, maintained and directed by certain individuals or groups against other individuals and communities who are different in ethnicity, language or religion from the dominant majority, often for political reasons or owing to long-standing and entrenched discrimination. Hateful messages may fall on particularly fertile ground where there are wider social, economic or political problems or divisions in society. The root causes of hatred often lie beyond purely ethnic or religious difference and must be better understood.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 103
- Paragraph text
- Traditional and contemporary media have enormous potential to foster knowledge, understanding and acceptance of diversity. Media can also be misused as a forum for stigmatization, discrimination, exclusion and, in the worst cases, incitement of violence. Contemporary media, particularly new digital media, due to its immediacy, universal scope, accessibility, interactive nature and the difficulty of regulating it, have become accessible platforms for spreading hate speech.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- There are no one-size-fits-all solutions and the most appropriate approaches to minority protection depend on national circumstances, and the situations of minority groups, as well as cultural, geographical, historical, political and socioeconomic factors. Whatever approach is taken, the principles of recognition of minorities, and of consultation with and effective participation of minorities should be fully complied with.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- Despite some excellent practices in the field, there is no mechanism for or consistent practice of ensuring that minority issues are mainstreamed across the in-country work of entities in the United Nations system, in accordance with article 9 of the 1992 Declaration on Minorities, even in countries where those issues are at the core of local conflicts. At the Headquarters level, in the Department of Political Affairs and in the UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, know-how on minority rights could be enhanced to facilitate the development of policies and practices sensitive to minorities. Appropriate training programmes and resources are required for staff throughout the United Nations system, to assist in the early identification by decision makers at the highest level of tensions involving minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 91c
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert provides the following broad recommendations to national Governments and the international community:] States must ensure that the national educational environment is welcoming and non-discriminatory for those belonging to religious minorities and that reasonable accommodation is provided for them to learn about their own religion, manifest their religion, participate in their religious holidays, and learn about the religions and beliefs of others. In conformity with the Declaration, States should, where appropriate, take measures to encourage the acquisition of knowledge about the history, traditions, language and culture of the minorities existing within their territory;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 91d
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert provides the following broad recommendations to national Governments and the international community:] States should undertake research and data-gathering exercises, including in the context of national census surveys, aimed at compiling detailed information on the demographic and socioeconomic situation of religious minorities in their country. Such data should be quantitative and qualitative in nature and include considerations of the situation of religious minorities relative to other members of society. It should have the objective of providing a comprehensive mapping of religious communities, their situations and the challenges affecting them, and it should be carried out in consultation with and the voluntary participation of minorities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur considers that violence against minorities must constitute a high priority for States, regional bodies and the international community, as well as civil society. She notes that the seventh session of the Forum on Minority Issues, to be held in Geneva on 25 and 26 November 2014, will be dedicated to this issue and will provide an appropriate venue for stakeholders, including minorities, Member States, regional bodies, United Nations bodies and mechanisms, specialized agencies and civil society, to hold a dialogue on the subject and produce recommendations for presentation to the Human Rights Council.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 111
- Paragraph text
- All staff working in the criminal justice system should receive training, conducted with the participation of minorities, in non-discrimination and cultural competency.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 123
- Paragraph text
- Discrimination based on caste and analogous systems is a global phenomenon, affecting more than 250 million people worldwide. This serious human rights violation infringes upon the basic principles of universal human dignity and equality, as it differentiates between "inferior" and "superior" categories of individuals because of their inherited caste status. It also leads to extreme exclusion and dehumanization of caste-affected communities, who are often among the most disadvantaged populations, experience the worst socioeconomic conditions and are deprived of or severely restricted in the enjoyment of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 124
- Paragraph text
- Discrimination based on caste and analogous systems is deeply embedded in interpersonal and communal relationships in caste-affected countries. Therefore, overcoming it will require not only legal and political responses, but also community based approaches aimed at changing the mindsets of individuals and the collective conscience of local communities. In this regard, formal and informal community education and open dialogue from an early age are essential elements to ensure that the principles of human dignity and equality generally are accepted and respected.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is concerned that, with increasing hate speech, xenophobic rhetoric and incitement to hatred against minorities, coupled with the rise of extremists and far-right political parties, the progress achieved during the past decades in the field of minority rights protection is under threat. Therefore, she urges that swift and concrete guarantees be put in place to preserve those achievements and to allow further improvement. Such guarantees must come in the form of strengthened legislative and institutional frameworks for minority rights protection, as well as demonstrating an unequivocal political will to foster conditions for a cohesive society where there is unity in diversity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has observed challenges to the use of the term "minority" for certain distinct communities, either because they reject being referred as minorities on the basis of a perceived negative connotation, or because they self-identify as minorities but the State refuses to recognize them as such. She considers that further awareness-raising is required to fully convey the meaning, scope and implications of the term "minority", so that it can be reclaimed and used with the empowering intent it actually holds. Moreover, she recalls that the existence of an ethnic, religious or linguistic minority in a given State does not depend upon a decision by the Government but needs to be established by objective criteria. Members of those minorities need not be nationals or citizens, or even permanent residents. Therefore, she encourages States to be as inclusive as possible when designing protection measures for all disadvantaged minorities within their territories, including migrant workers and newly arrived minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is concerned that minorities are often disproportionately affected by statelessness as a result of discriminatory nationality and citizenship legislation that may deny citizenship for some ethnic, linguistic, racial or religious groups or deprive them of citizenship. Today, at least 10 million people around the world are denied a nationality and, although there are no disaggregated data, estimates indicate that many, if not most, of them belong to minority communities. Therefore, she welcomes current United Nations efforts, including the I Belong campaign to end statelessness of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and urges Member States to pledge their full support and cooperation so statelessness can be ended and so that it will not be a further source of stigmatization and discrimination against minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- States should monitor economic development projects to assess their impact on minorities, to ensure that they benefit equally with others, and that there is no detrimental effect on their rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- States should collect disaggregated data concerning the access of all sectors of society to economic opportunities and political decision-making. Data should be disaggregated by ethnicity and gender to highlight patterns of inequality that have an impact on minority women in different ways than on minority men. Data collection programmes should be designed with the involvement of representatives of minority communities, should allow for diverse forms of self-identification and should provide effective guarantees of data protection.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- The comprehensive implementation of minority rights, non-discrimination and equality standards constitutes an important foundation for the prevention of violence against minority communities and helps to establish the conditions for stability and harmonious relations among population groups. States should implement fully the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other regional and international standards.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 114
- Paragraph text
- Internet service providers (ISPs) should establish detailed terms of service, guidelines and notice-and-takedown procedures regarding hate speech and incitement, in line with national legislation and international standards, and ensure transparent implementation of those polices. The Special Rapporteur encourages ISPs to collaborate with government and civil society organizations to combat hate speech, including providing adequate channels for the reporting of illegal hateful content posted on their services.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- The national dimension of the institutional attention to minority issues must be complemented and reinforced by solid regional and international mechanisms tasked with promoting domestication of minority rights as well as the protection and promotion of minority standards regionally and internationally. The Special Rapporteur encourages regional systems to adopt strong minority rights standards and establish dedicated mechanisms, where they do not yet exist, to protect and promote the rights of minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- Members of a minority are less likely to engage with, or participate as actors within, criminal justice institutions as long as the members of that minority face active discrimination within the system, whether as accused, victims or witnesses. This being the case, non-minority officials and representatives must also act on their own initiative to address discrimination in the administration of justice, and to transform negative feedback cycles of distrust into positive feedback cycles of progress.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure that authorities effectively and promptly investigate any crimes against Roma individuals and communities, including by investigating any alleged discriminatory motive behind the attacks. Police officers should refrain from using force during police operations, including in informal settlements, and all allegations of harassment or unlawful use of force by police should be thoroughly investigated.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- In view of the fact that the 9th Forum on Minority Issues, which will take place in Geneva on 24-25 November 2016, will enable further reflection on this topic, and elaborate a report with a set of concrete recommendations regarding minorities in situations of humanitarian crisis which will be submitted to the Human Rights Council in 2017, the Special Rapporteur will now limit herself to the general concluding observations and recommendations described below.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- Additionally, while there has been added emphasis placed on the prevention of certain specific crimes, including genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, violent conflicts that do not fit those definitions may also warrant additional attention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- As the former President of the General Assembly, Jan Eliasson, proclaimed, "What a qualitative difference we could have in the United Nations if we moved the focus from the late stages of conflict to the early stages, if we were to spend more time on smoke detection rather than taking care of a house that has already burned down" (A/60/PV.98, p. 4).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Additionally, while there has been added emphasis placed on the prevention of certain specific crimes, including genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, violent conflicts that do not fit those definitions may also warrant additional attention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 109
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations should continue to make efforts to share the experiences of a variety of agencies with early warning methodologies, including those systems which combine quantitative and qualitative indicators, and should incorporate minority rights indicators so that all agencies, departments and country offices can draw on the best available practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- Minority rights expertise should be strengthened and integrated comprehensively across the United Nations system. Given the prevalence of conflicts involving identity issues, permanent in-house expertise on minority issues within the principal agencies and departments working on conflict prevention would be highly beneficial.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- Institutional practices and methodologies should be adopted and promoted to ensure the full and effective representation of minorities in institutions and the participation of and consultation with minorities in all aspects of institutional work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- Awareness-raising activities should promote knowledge of specialized minority rights and equality bodies or departments or relevant agencies, and of their services. Outreach should be targeted towards minority communities, including through minority media, and in minority localities. Information and services should be provided in minority languages.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- Institutions or departments working on women's issues should establish specialist units or focal points for minority women and girls so as to ensure adequate attention to their issues and should recruit minority women.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Women
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- Regional or local sub-offices of human rights institutions and other relevant bodies should be considered, including in areas with concentrated minority communities and in localities where communities may face particular challenges, including violence, conflict or displacement.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- Recent examples of interreligious tensions and violence demonstrate the need for dedicated institutional attention to religious minorities and interfaith dialogue. Efforts to improve understanding and build positive relationships between faith groups should engage religious leaders, institutions and communities from all faith groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- International bodies with a national presence, including United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, should consider institutional strengthening so as to ensure required expertise and attention to minority issues and should employ staff from minorities, where appropriate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- Mechanisms to ensure dialogue, consultation and participation, the fundamental principles of minority rights, should be established to assist States in understanding the situations of minorities, their issues and concerns. Where violence has previously taken place, such mechanisms are particularly essential, including in post-conflict and post-violence reconciliation and peacebuilding processes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- Establishing institutions for the protection of minority rights and ensuring attention to minority rights within existing national and human rights institutions are essential violence prevention measures. Such institutional attention facilitates early warning and early response and the establishment of the appropriate policy frameworks and violence prevention strategies that are essential to the prevention of violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 107
- Paragraph text
- In collaboration with representatives of minorities, Governments should elaborate and adopt a national strategy designed to prevent discrimination against minorities within the criminal justice system and to increase the effective participation of minorities within the system.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 108
- Paragraph text
- Police forces should collaborate with minorities at the local level in establishing permanent liaison mechanisms that are controlled or jointly controlled by the minorities themselves, developing local strategies, keeping open the lines of communication and building mutual trust.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- Sources cited throughout this report provide States with many practical recommendations on how to improve the situation of minorities in the criminal justice system. Space considerations permit the Special Rapporteur to highlight only a few:
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- States should establish mechanisms, policies and practices for community-oriented policing which bring together police agencies and minorities to participate in the administration of justice, and to foster trust, dialogue and partnership.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 106
- Paragraph text
- States should ascertain whether minorities are subjected to harsher penalties in sentencing or execution of sentence, identify any role that direct or indirect discrimination plays in this regard, and take measures to eliminate it.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Priorities for the work of the Independent Expert and the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 2012, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- The independent expert looks forward to fulfilling the requirements of her Human Rights Council mandate and to constructive and fruitful cooperation with diverse stakeholders in all regions towards that end. She particularly notes her desire for a constructive engagement with United Nations Member States and encourages Member States to respond positively to her requests for information or for country visits, while emphasizing that her mandate remains available to provide assistance to States and respond to their requests, including in the area of technical cooperation, to the fullest extent possible. Equally, the independent expert reiterates the importance that she places on the role and views of non-governmental organizations and representatives of minority communities themselves, including in providing information to her and engaging and assisting her fully as she conducts her work on minority issues and with and on behalf of minority communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- To fulfil their human rights obligations and also as a measure to increase stability and improve inclusive governance, States should implement fully the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, through a process of consultation and cooperation with minority groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- States should implement comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, including measures to prohibit discrimination by both State and private actors. Legislation must provide for effective, transparent enforcement mechanisms which can be accessed easily by all.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 103
- Paragraph text
- Minority rights expertise should be strengthened and integrated comprehensively across the United Nations system. Given the prevalence of conflicts involving identity issues, permanent in-house expertise on minority issues within the principal agencies and departments working on conflict prevention would be highly beneficial.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 105
- Paragraph text
- Consideration should be given to adding an expert on minority rights to the standby team of mediation experts in the Department of Political Affairs. Additional consideration could be given to involving the team in country situations at an earlier point on the conflict continuum that runs between the expression of grievances to the outbreak of violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- Governmental and independent national human rights institutions should lead by example and ensure that their governing bodies and staff, including at senior levels, reflect the diversity within society, and ensure as well the representation of minority women. Diversity in public and private sectors should be promoted and monitored.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- National human rights institutions should have mandates that explicitly include the protection and promotion of minority rights and expertise in the field of minority rights. Consideration should be given to establishing dedicated consultative and advisory bodies to help ensure that minority issues are adequately addressed at the national and local levels.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 113
- Paragraph text
- National institutions responsible for oversight of police, as well as independent regulatory bodies for the judiciary, prosecutors and legal profession, should systematically assess and report on the situation of minorities within the criminal justice process, and take action when they observe discrimination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 111
- Paragraph text
- Specific training in minority issues should be provided to media professionals by media outlets to help journalists improve coverage and produce accurate, in-depth and informed reporting on minority-related issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 112
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur encourages the establishment of national, independent regulatory bodies, including representatives of minorities, with powers to monitor hate speech in the media, receive reports from the public in relation to hate speech, receive and support complaints, and make recommendations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 113
- Paragraph text
- While recognizing the technical and operational difficulties in combating online hate speech, the Special Rapporteur encourages States to take specific measures, including specialized training of law enforcement bodies and prosecutors, to address hate crimes and incitement to hatred on the Internet, and to exchange information and best practices at the international level.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 115
- Paragraph text
- Education to promote intercultural understanding, mutual respect and tolerance among population groups is essential to eliminating stereotypes and prejudices against minority communities. Human rights education should be an important part of school curricula, which should also include the history, culture and traditions of minority groups as well as their important contribution to enriching our societies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur welcomes the numerous recommendations of other human rights mechanisms targeting Roma, urges all States to take immediate steps towards implementing them, and adds the following recommendations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- States should implement fully the Declaration and other relevant regional and international human rights standards, including comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that prohibits all forms of discrimination, and identify State agencies tasked with monitoring and combating discrimination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 106
- Paragraph text
- Successful Roma-controlled programmes that address issues of health, education and other areas of concern in ways that are culturally appropriate and adapted to local needs should be supported and replicated.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 107
- Paragraph text
- Traditional and new media have the potential to promote intercultural dialogue between Roma and non-Roma communities. The media should promote non-stereotypical portrayals of Roma, including through providing greater visibility to Roma self-representation, history and culture.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 108
- Paragraph text
- The participation of Roma media professionals should be encouraged and programmes to train, recruit and support Roma media workers should be implemented. The media must guarantee that they do not contribute to or allow hate speech and incitement to hatred or violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- Humanitarian responders, whether national or international, should also receive training to better understand the minority rights framework in order to be able to better identify discrimination against minorities in situations of crisis, and to be better equipped to be able adequately to respond to their needs. Recruitment of minorities into humanitarian agencies should be encouraged.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- Governments should ensure that Roma are represented at all levels of public institutions and bodies, including national parliaments, the civil service, the police and the judiciary. Where Roma leaders are visible, their work should be promoted and they should be supported to act as role models and raise awareness of Roma political participation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 110
- Paragraph text
- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights should consider producing guidelines on integration with diversity in policing, thereby resuming the process initiated under the former Working Group on Minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 106
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations should develop an inter-agency guidance note on addressing minority issues to include, inter alia: how to consult with minority communities in order to capture the diversity of positions; how to involve civil society organizations working with minority communities in United Nations conflict prevention work; and how to develop context-specific early warning indicators.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- One of the possible benefits of placing more emphasis on minority rights as a tool for conflict prevention may be that it not only facilitates earlier warnings of troubled societies, but also that the corresponding corrective measures are relatively less costly politically. That would increase the likelihood of action being taken earlier.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- To fulfil their human rights obligations and also as a measure to increase stability and improve inclusive governance, States should implement fully the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, through a process of consultation and cooperation with minority groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- States should implement comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, including measures to prohibit discrimination by both State and private actors. Legislation must provide for effective, transparent enforcement mechanisms which can be accessed easily by all.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- States should monitor the participation of minorities in all areas of economic life, including allocation of jobs within public services, to ensure that members of all communities have equal access without discrimination. Requirements, including language qualifications for public service jobs, should not result in the effective exclusion of minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- States should monitor economic development projects to assess their impact on minorities, to ensure that they benefit equally with others, and that there is no detrimental effect on their rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- Where there are historical patterns of exclusion of members of minorities from employment, business and education opportunities, States should implement capacity-building programmes and other affirmative action measures to enable members of minorities, including minority women, to compete on an equal footing.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- Public proclamations regarding national identity, for example in the constitution, and key national symbols should be fully inclusive, and should not exclude segments of a country's population nor deny, explicitly or implicitly, the full diversity of the population.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- Protection of disadvantaged and vulnerable minority groups facing violence is required as much as ever. Continuing violent incidents suggest that only limited advances have been made in employing indicators, protection strategies and methodologies at the national, regional and international levels and that much remains to be done to protect vulnerable minority groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- Violence has far-reaching impacts on individuals, communities and societies. The immediate impact may be death, injury, destruction of property, displacement and sexual violence against minorities. The longer-term impact on minorities, their enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and their relations with other groups in society may last for generations after incidents of violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- Globally, minorities face discrimination and lack of representation within the administration of criminal justice. Measures to eliminate discrimination and ensure equality before the law are more likely to be effective if undertaken with a minority rights-based approach, which includes ensuring effective participation of minorities in all aspects of the criminal justice process and administration of justice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) recommendations on policing in multi-ethnic societies, which provide detailed guidance on making police services more representative and enhancing communication between police and minority communities, should be regarded by all States as a useful framework, relevant as well for national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- Police, prosecutors and judicial authorities must ensure that criminal complaints from members of minorities are pursued with the same diligence that is applied to those of other complainants. Where necessary, special measures and accommodations in investigation and trial procedures should be adopted, in consultation with minority communities. All police should have protocols and training in respect of recording and investigating hate crimes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure that rules for use of force by police respect the principles of necessity and proportionality, and that intentional use of lethal force is restricted to situations where it is strictly unavoidable in order to save life. Discriminatory patterns of use of excessive or otherwise unlawful force should be independently and impartially investigated and the results should be publicized.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 103
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure free professional translation for minority accused who are not fluent in the language used in court, and should allow those persons to use the minority language. States should further consider recognizing the right of members of minorities with significant population or historical ties, whether nationally or locally, to have the proceedings conducted in their own language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- Independent professional associations for judges, prosecutors and lawyers should provide guidance and training, including with respect to implicit bias and indirect discrimination; and there should be disciplinary consequences and remedial measures when discrimination against minorities is practised.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- Within the framework of a strong equality-focused goal or goals, it will be crucial to establish specific targets for States on the inclusion of minorities and specific indicators upon which to measure progress. The participation of minorities needs to be ensured and increased in all phases.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- Several factors influence the extent and prevalence of hate speech in the media, including the absence of or unclear legislation on incitement to hatred, negative and stereotyped portrayal of minorities, limited access and representation of minorities in the media, structural inequalities, the changing media landscape and the emerging and more organized forms of extremist and populists movements.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 105
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur urges States to adopt domestic legislation, in conformity with article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, prohibiting any "advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- Political parties should prohibit inflammatory, racist, anti-Roma rhetoric and ensure that public discourse does not perpetrate stereotypical, racist, hateful or discriminatory views about Roma. They should take effective action against such discourse.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- The protection and promotion of the rights of Roma should be prioritized on the political agenda in order to demonstrate a serious political commitment to combating the causes and consequences of anti-Gypsyism and discrimination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure that measures addressing the socioeconomic vulnerability of Roma are addressed not only through programmes addressing poverty and marginalization, but are part of a wider approach that tackles the widespread prejudice, discrimination and racist attitudes against Roma, including anti-Gypsyism.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- Creating conditions for the effective participation of Roma in all aspects of the life of the State, including in decision-making bodies, should be considered by States as an integral aspect of good governance and a key priority in efforts to ensure equality and non-discrimination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 126
- Paragraph text
- Discrimination on the basis of caste and analogous systems is a major cause of poverty, inequality and social exclusion of affected communities. In the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, States should consider including caste-specific indicators to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals and their targets address the situation of affected groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- One of the possible benefits of placing more emphasis on minority rights as a tool for conflict prevention may be that it not only facilitates earlier warnings of troubled societies, but also that the corresponding corrective measures are relatively less costly politically. That would increase the likelihood of action being taken earlier.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- United Nations staff working on conflict prevention and peace-building, particularly those working on policy, analysis and early warning and in country teams, should receive comprehensive minority rights training.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- Consideration should be given to adding an expert on minority rights to the standby team of mediation experts in the Department of Political Affairs. Additional consideration could be given to involving the team in country situations at an earlier point on the conflict continuum that runs between the expression of grievances to the outbreak of violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations should develop an inter-agency guidance note on addressing minority issues to include, inter alia: how to consult with minority communities in order to capture the diversity of positions; how to involve civil society organizations working with minority communities in United Nations conflict prevention work; and how to develop context-specific early warning indicators.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations should continue to make efforts to share the experiences of a variety of agencies with early warning methodologies, including those systems which combine quantitative and qualitative indicators, and should incorporate minority rights indicators so that all agencies, departments and country offices can draw on the best available practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure that members of minorities are proactively informed, in a language and through a means appropriate to their situation, of their rights as victims of crime, and on how to access support, including legal assistance and interpretation services. To this end, States should consider establishing liaison officers from, or with connections in, the relevant minority communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- The Independent Expert urges States to establish independent monitoring bodies with civil society and public participation, including of minorities, to ensure that the next round of commitments made at the global level are fulfilled for minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 107
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur calls upon all States to adopt the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence when implementing or revising their domestic legal framework on hate speech.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 109
- Paragraph text
- The establishment of institutions dedicated to minority issues, with mandates to train, monitor and act on issues relevant to intercommunal relations and harmony, objective portrayal of and peace between diverse population groups, especially regarding relevant threats, such as incitement to religious or racial hatred, is desirable.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- Governments, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, and other international and regional organizations should mainstream Roma rights into all aspects of their programming and make efforts to include Roma within their staff.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 105
- Paragraph text
- Roma and pro-Roma civil society organizations play a crucial role in breaking down the barriers preventing the effective participation of Roma in all spheres of life. Stakeholders are encouraged to collaborate and support those organizations, including through providing adequate financial support.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 109
- Paragraph text
- Data collection should be based on self-identification and take place in a sensitive manner, respecting privacy in accordance with international standards of data protection. Roma civil society, individuals and communities should be involved throughout the process, from designing data collection methods to collection and analysis of the data.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- In order to address the root causes of anti-Gypsyism, the Special Rapporteur recommends that the history, culture and traditions of Roma, in particular the Nazi genocide, be taught in schools. Awareness-raising measures to inform non-Roma populations about Roma history, identity and culture should be integrated into all education efforts.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- Governments must ensure that sufficient funding is dedicated to improving the situation of Roma communities. Funds allocated at regional and national level, as well as other financial instruments, should be expended efficiently and directed to the local level.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- Effective steps should be taken to ensure that the national staff composition of the United Nations country teams is inclusive of persons from minority communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur calls upon States to review their respective domestic legislation to ensure that it is fully in line with the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. She recalls the four pillars of minority rights protection that should be reflected in those laws: (a) the protection of a minority's survival by combating violence against its members and preventing genocide; (b) the protection and promotion of the cultural identity of minority groups, and their right to enjoy their collective identity and to reject forced assimilation; (c) the guarantee of the rights to non-discrimination and equality, including ending structural or systemic discrimination and the promotion of affirmative action, when required; (d) the right to effective participation of minorities in public life and in decisions that affect them. The Special Rapporteur wishes to stress that merely having non-discrimination clauses, according to which all members of the society are to be treated equally, without the aforementioned additional guarantees have often proven insufficient for effective protection of disadvantaged minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- States should monitor the participation of minorities in all areas of economic life, including allocation of jobs within public services, to ensure that members of all communities have equal access without discrimination. Requirements, including language qualifications for public service jobs, should not result in the effective exclusion of minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- Where there are historical patterns of exclusion of members of minorities from employment, business and education opportunities, States should implement capacity-building programmes and other affirmative action measures to enable members of minorities, including minority women, to compete on an equal footing.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- Public proclamations regarding national identity, for example in the constitution, and key national symbols should be fully inclusive, and should not exclude segments of a country's population nor deny, explicitly or implicitly, the full diversity of the population.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- National human rights institutions should have mandates that explicitly include the protection and promotion of minority rights and expertise in the field of minority rights. Consideration should be given to establishing dedicated consultative and advisory bodies to help ensure that minority issues are adequately addressed at the national and local levels.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- The Declaration and other relevant international and regional minority rights standards should be incorporated into domestic law, thereby providing a strong legal basis for institution-building and strengthening in the area of minority rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- States should consider specialist national institutions mandated to address minority issues, including dedicated departments, sections or focal points within national institutional frameworks and national human rights institutions. Permanent and ad hoc consultative and advisory bodies addressing minority issues should be considered.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- National statistical agencies and other relevant government bodies and departments should be mandated to engage in the collection of disaggregated data, as a good practice in the field of minority issues, and develop internal expertise on minority issues, and on data collection and analysis methodologies relevant to ethnicity, religion and language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- Institutions mandated to address minority issues should be adequately funded, resourced and staffed to enable them to fulfil their mandates effectively and to respond appropriately to the challenges, requests and needs of minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- Institutions working on minority issues must be transparent and accountable to minorities, including with regard to processes for electing or appointing senior representatives and staff and their methods of work and activities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 109
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure the recruitment, retention and promotion of members of underrepresented minorities in the police, the judiciary, prosecution services, the legal profession and prison staff, including through specially targeted measures developed in consultation with minority groups and existing minority staff.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 116
- Paragraph text
- Media literacy is essential to providing youth and adults with adequate tools and resources to develop critical thinking in order to question the accuracy, bias and impact of the information provided by the media. The Special Rapporteur recommends that States include key functions of media literacy in school curricula at all stages with special focus on the online environment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 117
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur welcomes the commendable work of civil society in conducting public-awareness campaigns to combat hate speech, including on the Internet. She encourages States to work collaboratively with and support those organizations and projects, including providing financial support.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 127
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that relevant elements and standards emanating from the minority rights framework, including equality, non discrimination, consultation, participation and special measures, can contribute to the protection of the rights of caste-affected communities and should be applied to combat discrimination based on caste and analogous systems.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 128
- Paragraph text
- States should adopt specific legislation prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of caste and/or analogous systems. Existing legal frameworks to combat caste discrimination must be adequately and fully implemented and include appropriate penalties for acts of caste-based discrimination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 131
- Paragraph text
- Special measures, including reservations, quota systems and/or schemes, should be put into place and enforced in specific areas, including employment, education, and public and political institutions, in order to guarantee the effective participation and representation of affected communities in public life.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 135
- Paragraph text
- Human rights education in schools should be a mandatory subject. Language in school textbooks should be revised to eliminate stereotypical and prejudicial portrayals of caste-affected communities and contest the social construction of caste and caste-like systems and related notions, including untouchability and segregation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 137
- Paragraph text
- States should extend invitations to special procedure mandate holders to assess the situation of caste-affected communities in their respective countries and request their assistance for technical cooperation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 138
- Paragraph text
- The draft United Nations principles and guidelines for the effective elimination of discrimination based on work and descent should be promoted by States and endorsed by the Human Rights Council.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations in general should advocate more strongly for minority rights protection at both national and regional levels, to seek to ensure that States strengthen their legal, policy and institutional frameworks and that regional anti-discrimination and minority rights standards and mechanisms are put in place for the protection and promotion of minority rights, respectively. Equally, the Organization should consider strengthening existing mechanisms and platforms for minorities within the United Nations system, including the Forum on Minority Issues. It would be important for the United Nations network on racial discrimination and the protection of minorities to regularly update the Human Rights Council about its work. Furthermore, the establishment of a committee to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide is long overdue and would assist Member States in complying with the Convention. It would also be crucial to appoint a high-level official on minority issues within the Secretariat as well to establish senior positions within United Nations departments and agencies to look into issues of minority rights protection, diversity management and safeguarding pluralistic societies. The designation of minority focal points in all United Nations field offices would be another great step forward.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- Substantial steps have been taken over recent years to reposition international engagement with conflict situations from the point of reaction to a point of identification of early warnings. There is mounting evidence that one of the earliest indicators of potential violence is the chronic disregard of minority rights. Early warning systems must have the necessary expertise to be alert to such indicators. While there is already a substantial flow of information to early warning mechanisms within the United Nations system, a focus on minority rights should be strengthened.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- The twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration provides an opportunity for States to consider practical measures for enhancing its implementation. Necessary efforts towards achieving positive and systematic change so as to ensure a culture and practice of minority rights and equality require political commitment and proactive approaches that are often lacking. While non-discrimination measures are essential, minority rights frequently require States to implement positive measures and approaches, as articulated in the Declaration, to ensure equality.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 91e
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert provides the following broad recommendations to national Governments and the international community:] Fundamental to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities are meaningful consultation with, and the effective participation of, religious minorities in decisions that affect them. Positive measures to ensure consultation and participation at all levels of society are required. The inclusion of religious minorities in consultative and decision-making bodies helps to ensure that their views, issues and concerns are taken into account. Where religious minorities form the majority in a particular region or locality, cultural and/or political autonomy arrangements may be considered appropriate, with due consideration given to ensuring the rights of those who may form a minority in those localities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 91f
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert provides the following broad recommendations to national Governments and the international community:] The security situation of religious minorities in some States is cause for serious concern and requires the urgent attention of national Governments, regional intergovernmental human rights bodies and the United Nations. Acts of violence and widespread and systematic violations of human rights - sometimes by the State itself - threaten the very existence of religious minorities in some States or territories. States have the responsibility to protect human rights and security for all and to create conditions of peace and stability. They must act appropriately and rapidly to protect the rights and security of religious minorities under threat and prosecute anyone who commits, supports or incites violence against them;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- A lack of recognition and constitutional and legal protection of linguistic minority rights is often a contributing factor to the decline. In many instances not enough has been done to support and promote a minority language and its users, and the provisions of the 1992 Declaration on Minorities have not been implemented in practice. The Independent Expert on minority issues welcomes the work undertaken by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to protect endangered languages and promote linguistic diversity. She supports the interdisciplinary approach taken by UNESCO to the promotion of linguistic diversity, which incorporates capacity-building, research and analysis, awareness-raising, project implementation, networks and dissemination of information. Nevertheless, vital work can be conducted only at the national levels, and where necessary States should seek assistance and technical cooperation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- In many cases a strong community desire exists to maintain minority languages as a core and indispensable element of culture and identity. Sometimes this is viewed by Governments as divisive and counter to State ideologies and policies to promote national identity, national unity, integration and territorial integrity. In States in which historical, political and geographical factors have created highly diverse communities, disputes over territories and borders and tensions between different national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups may exist. Irrespective of such factors States are obligated to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of linguistic minorities, and restrictions must be in the public interest and proportional to the aims sought.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Equality for minorities is a human right and must be recognized as a core development goal. There are compelling arguments for greater attention being given to disadvantaged minorities in post-2015 development agendas and future development goals. Foremost amongst these is that globally, disadvantaged minorities remain among the poorest and most socially and economically excluded communities. The Independent Expert considers that a real risk exists that many millions of persons belonging to minorities globally will continue to be "left behind" if there is not a clear commitment at the global and national levels to address their plight as a high global development priority.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- Minorities should be among the first targets of development strategies, yet frequently they are among the last. Lack of attention to the situations of minorities constitutes one of the most serious deficiencies in the MDG process and an important impediment to achieving certain goals in some States. Without significant and continuing efforts to raise attention to the need for solutions that work effectively for disadvantaged minorities, post 2015 strategies may continue to follow the same patterns, priorities and models that have proved to be flawed in their ability to address the development needs of disadvantaged minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- States should assess whether minorities are disproportionately represented in pretrial detention or prison, and take concrete measures to address the root causes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 132
- Paragraph text
- Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to caste discrimination, as they suffer from multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination owing to both their gender and unprivileged caste status. They are disproportionately subjected to dire human rights violations, including violence and, particularly, sexual violence, trafficking, early and/or forced marriage and harmful traditional practices. They face obstacles in accessing justice and redress and are excluded or relegated to a secondary or subordinate role in decision-making processes. Caste-affected States should urgently take robust action to eradicate such violations through, inter alia, the enactment and effective implementation of specific legislation and the adoption of special measures, policies and programmes to address the entrenched situation of marginalization and exclusion experienced by women and girls owing to their caste status.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 133
- Paragraph text
- Ad hoc supervisory bodies or specific departments in national human rights institutions should be established to address and monitor caste-based discrimination, where relevant. They should analyse existing domestic legislation, and recommend programmes and provide advice on public policies to enhance the implementation of non-discrimination legislation. They should provide complaint-handling services, including by receiving complaints, conducting investigations and initiating or pursuing legal actions in relation to cases involving caste-based discrimination. These bodies should be independent and provided with sufficient funding, resources and staff to adequately fulfil their mandate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 134
- Paragraph text
- Law enforcement officers should receive training to identify and adequately respond to cases of caste-based discrimination, particularly those involving caste-based violence. Rapid-response protocols should be developed and implemented by police officers to attend to victims and conduct in situ investigations. Criminal penalties should be established for law enforcement officers who neglect or intentionally decide not to investigate and/or prosecute complaints filed by individuals regarded as "low caste". Recruitment of members of affected communities into law enforcement agencies should be encouraged, including through the establishment of a quota system for caste-affected individuals.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- The Independent Expert considers that an appropriate venue for the elaboration of detailed recommendations on the rights of religious minorities is the Forum on Minority Issues, which will focus on the issues of religious minorities during its sixth session, in November 2013. The Forum will benefit from the participation of governmental and non-governmental actors and minority experts, and will provide an inclusive opportunity for discussion of the issues and elaboration of recommendations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- Expertise on minority issues should be mainstreamed into the mandates of all relevant ministries and governmental organs and national human rights institutions. Those particularly relevant to minority concerns, including in the fields of education, employment, health, housing and culture, should collaborate in the development of joint initiatives and programmes targeted towards disadvantaged minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- Gross inequalities and persistent poverty are frequently elements in the complex social, economic and geopolitical equations which lead to conflict and violence. Discrimination is a cause and a consequence of inequality and poverty and, under certain circumstances, including where land and resources are scarce, results in communities made vulnerable to violence. Addressing inequality and promoting equitable societies are key conflict and violence prevention measures.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- Despite the valuable new attention to inequalities, even within the numerous consultation reports emerging from the process, there is a tendency to place minorities at the end of a long list of disadvantaged groups or ignore them completely. The message that emerges from these high-level documents is that they are a relatively low priority in comparison to other inequality issues including gender equality, disability, children and age.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Some conflicts are rooted in the denial or deprivation of citizenship to certain identity groups. Disputes regarding citizenship often arise against the background of pre-existing ethnic or regional conflict, linked in many cases to broader factors of poverty, competition for scarce resources and political instability (A/HRC/7/23, para. 26). The denial of citizenship to a minority community has both a symbolic and practical impact, both of which can be central to the origins of conflict. It sends an unambiguous message about the exclusion of a community as part of the national identity. The denial of citizenship can also mean denial of access to schooling, to health treatment or other services and to political office as well as the constant threat of deportation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Economic exclusion is a cause, a manifestation and a consequence of discrimination against persons belonging to minorities. Many minorities have historically been excluded from full and effective participation in economic life, both in the developed and in the developing world. Minorities are often discriminated against when they seek employment, for example, on the basis of their colour, their religion, their language, their names, or even their addresses. Minorities are often poorly represented even in public sector employment and despite legislation that bans discrimination in both public and private sectors. They may face barriers in accessing credit or loans to begin small businesses and may live in the poorest regions or remote areas that offer limited prospects for their economic development. Equally, large-scale economic development projects or commercial activities carried out on the lands and territories where minorities live without their prior consultation has had negative impacts, including displacement, the perpetuation of poverty and, in some cases, violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- The tragic events in Rwanda and in the former Yugoslavia gave new impetus to efforts by the United Nations to protect minorities - described by the Secretary-General as "genocide's most frequent targets" - and other vulnerable population groups. In 2004, the Secretary-General established the mandate of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. The principal objective of the Special Adviser is to advise the Secretary-General and the Security Council on actions to protect vulnerable populations from genocide. The Office of the Special Adviser also attempts to identify a range of potential threats to minority populations at an early stage and make recommendations regarding the more constructive management of cultural diversity issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- Preventive diplomacy can be most effective when tensions first arise between a Government and a minority, and they are relatively susceptible to third party engagement. Envoys may work discreetly, as the situation is not yet in the glare of national or international media. Parties may be willing to calmly present their concerns, and to explore possible solutions. When a situation develops from these initial tensions to actual incidences of violence, positions begin to harden and resistance to compromise grows. It becomes more difficult for leaders to make compromises as the depth of feeling and emotion among their constituencies increases.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minorities and effective political participation: a survey of law and national practices 2010, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- In its resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007, the Human Rights Council established a Forum on Minority Issues ("the Forum"), inter alia to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as well as thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the independent expert on minority issues. The independent expert is required to guide the work of the Forum and prepare its annual meetings. The inaugural session took place on 15 and 16 December 2008 in Geneva with a thematic focus on "Minorities and the Right to Education".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minorities and effective political participation: a survey of law and national practices 2010, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Where the electoral system requires parties to present a list of candidates for election, the electoral law may require that the list be ethnically mixed or have a minimum number of minority candidates. In "closed list" systems, where the party, rather than the voter, determines the order of priority of the candidates, the party may place the minority candidate high on the list to ensure that she or he gains a seat, regardless of voters' actual preferences. Of course, such lists can be a barrier to effective minority representation if mainstream political parties place minority candidates low on their lists.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- The history of the development of minority rights at the United Nations has been closely linked to the need to address tensions between minorities and the State, and between population groups. The 1992 Declaration on Minorities states in its preamble that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to such minorities contribute to the political and social stability of States in which they live. The drafting of the Declaration began in 1978, and received added impetus with the break-up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. The importance attached to the Declaration was summed up by the representative of Austria, who, speaking before the Third Committee, observed that it should not be filed and forgotten, but implemented and filled with life, so as to contribute to overcoming situations of tension relating to minorities (see A/C.3/47/SR.47, para. 89).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- Minorities are often the targets, rather than the perpetrators, of violence. When minority rights are violated, members of minorities may be at a greater risk of being subjected to systematic violence, even when they are bystanders to a conflict involving other parties. Such incidents can happen as a result of minorities' poverty and exclusion from political decision-making processes, or because their often remote communities, poorly served by State infrastructure, can become targets for occupation for strategic purposes or for exploitation of natural resources. Furthermore, owing to the suspicion and prejudice with which they are often viewed by both members of the majority and security forces, minorities may be targeted with impunity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- The views of the independent expert have been developed through visits to countries in almost every region of the world, thematic reports and policy debates that she has facilitated at the Forum on Minority Issues. She has consulted widely with Governments, experts and non-governmental organizations. She has participated in seminars and forums in the field of early warning and conflict prevention. In addition, she has held consultations with numerous key actors, including the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, including discussions relating to, inter alia, how efforts could be coordinated to identify potential threats to the existence of minorities and how to better coordinate conflict prevention work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minorities and effective political participation: a survey of law and national practices 2010, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- The right to effective participation, the prohibition of discrimination and special measures are firmly rooted in international human rights law. The right of all persons to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, as well as to vote and be elected in genuine periodic elections is affirmed in article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This provision is an elaboration of article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: "Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives."
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2010
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- In countries where political power is seen to be concentrated in the hands of one or a few identity groups, it is common for those groups to be disproportionately represented in the public service, which can be a powerful source of tension. The adequate representation of minorities at all levels and in all branches of the criminal justice system, for example, can have particularly important implications for relations between disadvantaged communities and the Government. Negative encounters with police or security forces at the local level shape minority perceptions of their treatment and acceptance by the State.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- Economic exclusion and denial of access to quality education bring about a sense of despair, destroy hopes of upward mobility and are often a central grievance and a source of tensions. International standards on non-discrimination place an obligation on States to institute affirmative action policies to correct historical patterns of exclusion and enable members of minorities to achieve equality. Many States have recognized the corrosive nature of inequalities and have implemented such measures. Affirmative action programmes can, however, be a point of contention for majority communities, in particular when poorer members of majority communities perceive that they are losing out. It is important that Governments exercise leadership in educating the larger public, demonstrating that such programmes are based on the principles of justice and equal opportunity and result in fairer and more stable society.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The most appropriate system will depend on the specificities of the situation, including how populous the communities are, whether they are geographically dispersed or concentrated, the aspirations of the minority groups and how well integrated they are into the broader society. The flexibility of the minority rights framework makes it well suited to the compromises necessary in processes of negotiating solutions, diffusing tensions and avoiding violent conflicts. In November 2009, the second session of the Forum on Minority Issues focused on the issue of minorities and effective political participation and produced a set of practical recommendations for States and other actors (A/HRC/13/25, para. 5).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- Respecting the right of minorities to political participation at times of peace contributes to harmonious societies and opens non-violent avenues for the grievances of minorities to be addressed. When violent conflict does occur in diverse societies, applying a minority rights-based approach to consultations regarding peace agreements will require that all communities affected by the conflict, including those that are not active parties to it, be able to participate in the settlement process. That approach should counteract a tendency common in many conflict situations, whereby Governments, and the international community, focus predominately on addressing the demands of communities that are linked to armed movements, which may result in peace agreements that guarantee rights for some communities at the expense of others.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- At the core of minority rights are the protection and preservation of culturally distinctive identities within societies. The denigration or suppression of the defining identity of a person or group can be a powerful factor in generating conflict. Repressive measures to control or restrict religious or traditional practices or force assimilation can galvanize opposition and create a common platform around which targeted communities can rally. Language, in particular, is a potent vehicle of culture. The imposition on minority communities of a majority language, either through teaching in public schools or formal prohibitions on the use of minority languages, has been a spark that has ignited many violent clashes in every region.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- According to a statistical assessment carried out by Minority Rights Group International, over 55 per cent of violent conflicts of a significant intensity between 2007 and 2009 had at their core violations of minority rights or tensions between communities. In a further 22 per cent of conflicts, minority issues had emerged or receded in the course of the evolution of the conflict. Those figures indicate that Governments, donors and intergovernmental organizations need to allocate significant attention and resources to minority issues as sources of conflict. However, the current picture in this regard is mixed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights requires that "(i)n those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language". The Declaration further elaborates the rights of minorities and the obligations upon States. Numerous provisions within the Declaration require positive measures in legislation, policy and programming to ensure the full and effective participation of minorities in public life. Their implementation may best be achieved through a national policy and institutional framework incorporating targeted attention to minority rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Clearly it is necessary to combine monitoring of patterns of economic and political exclusion, for example, with an analysis of the political and social context, allowing for an identification of the risk of escalation that is as accurate as possible. Better insight is needed into why certain situations of systematic exclusion escalate from chronic grievances to violent conflict. It may be due to numerous factors, such as the building up of pressure over time to intolerable levels; regime change (many studies have found a link between political transitions and increased incidence of conflict); or a specific, highly symbolic trigger, perhaps linked to an affront to a community's identity such as the denial of status to a minority language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in its general recommendation No. XVII on the establishment of national institutions to facilitate implementation of the Convention (see A/48/18, chap. VIII.B), recommends that States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination "establish national commissions or other appropriate bodies … to serve, inter alia … (a) to promote respect for the enjoyment of human rights without any discrimination; … (b) to review government policy towards protection against racial discrimination; (c) to monitor legislative compliance with the provisions of the Convention; (d) to educate the public about the obligations of States under the Convention; (e) to assist in the preparation of reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Institutional attention to minority rights can assist in international cooperation and prevent international tensions relating to the treatment of minorities. The existence of minorities in a State may have cross-border implications, in cases where, for example, they have a "kin" State or external religious ties. Minorities have the right to maintain peaceful contacts across frontiers. Owing to historical or geopolitical factors, the treatment of minorities may be sensitive. The Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has produced recommendations on national minorities in inter-State relations. While protection of minorities is primarily the responsibility of the State of residence, States are encouraged to conclude bilateral treaties and arrangements, share information and concerns, pursue interests and ideas, and support minorities on the basis of friendly inter-State relations. States are recommended to use instruments, including advisory and consultative bodies such as minority councils or joint commissions, and establish mediation and arbitration mechanisms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Data disaggregated along ethnic and religious lines and sex reveal inequalities and are a vital resource for informing policy and programming on minority issues. Data allow targets and objectives to be established based on identified concerns which may include education access and outcomes, labour-market activity, health and housing and provide justification for targeted programmes. National statistical bodies and other relevant government bodies should be mandated to collect disaggregated data as a good practice and develop internal expertise on minority issues, and utilize data collection and analysis methodologies relevant to ethnicity, religion, language and identity. Most countries hold regular national censuses and relevant questions should be included that adhere to personal data protection standards. Specialist attention would allow appropriate indicators to be identified and utilized to assess the relative situation of minorities and the impact of programmes, as measured against established targets.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Governments can be important sources of support and funding for non governmental organizations. Even where Governments establish institutional attention to minority issues, they may consider providing institutionalized support to non-governmental organizations and community groups working with and on behalf of minorities, including in the context of specific services and projects. They should also assist in the establishment of, and provide support to, minority media that provide an essential service and information delivery mechanisms for minorities. However, service provision by non-governmental organizations should not be considered a viable substitute for dedicated Government attention to minority issues and Government-led provision of essential services and allocation of financial resources necessary to improve the living conditions and protect the rights of minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- Permanent assemblies or political bodies can facilitate minority representation in national political structures. The members of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan represent 40 of the largest ethnic groups. The Government states that it revives and promotes ethnic cultures, languages and traditions; strengthens inter ethnic unity and harmony through the monitoring of ethnic relations; and makes recommendations on State policy. Deputies in the lower house of the parliament are appointed from among the members of the Assembly. The House of Federation of Ethiopia, which is the upper house of the parliament, is composed of representatives of over 60 "nations, nationalities and peoples". It is intended to act as an assurance mechanism for the rights of ethnic groups, as established in the constitution. Such bodies must be based on principles of democratic accountability and electoral legitimacy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Institutions, including ministries, may decide to have dedicated advisers, consultant posts or focal points within their institutional structures that have responsibility for minority issues. While such posts provide relatively low-level institutional attention, compared with dedicated institutions or departments, they can nevertheless fulfil important functions, raise awareness of minority issues in key policy and programme areas, and demonstrate institutional will to respond to minority concerns. Where advisory posts or focal points exist in different ministries, they may have the potential to promote coordination and information-sharing and joint projects. Given the specialist nature of such roles, priority should be given to the recruitment of minorities, including minority women.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- National human rights institutions are independent, autonomous bodies created by law and should function in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions (the Paris principles) (General Assembly resolution 48/134, annex). National human rights institutions include human rights commissions, ombudsman's offices, and specialized institutions designed to protect the rights of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups. In 2005, the United Nations Working Group on Minorities of the former Commission on Human Rights noted that national human rights institutions can contribute significantly to the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities and that there is growing recognition of the contribution that these institutions can make to safeguard the rights of the less advantaged groups of society, in close partnership with them. Nevertheless, frequently such institutions lack clear and proactive mandates for addressing minority issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- The Paris principles require bodies to address racial discrimination proactively, including by increasing public awareness through provision of information and education and by making use of all press organs. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have highlighted the fact that in some States the rights of groups including minorities may be controversial and contested and that national human rights institutions "are frequently the only ones that can and do speak out in defence of those who have no voice, or whose influence is minimal". They frequently provide vital critical assessments of Government policy and practice, including through reports to United Nations treaty bodies that provide non governmental perspectives and substantive recommendations. With specialist minority expertise, they are well placed to advise Governments and critique their minority-related policy and practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- Regional intergovernmental bodies can promote national attention to minority issues. The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights can be interpreted as containing provisions for protection of minorities; however, in African States attention to minority issues is relatively weak. The African Commission has a Working Group on Indigenous Populations and is encouraged to consider creating a similar body to promote national attention to minorities. The Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is drafting a human rights declaration; and the Organization of American States has a working group to prepare a draft inter-American convention against racism and all forms of discrimination and intolerance. Inclusion of strong minority rights provisions in such regional standards could promote and require national attention to minority rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Priorities for the work of the Independent Expert and the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 2012, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- The independent expert is particularly concerned about the situation of religious minorities in all regions. Information received by the mandate of the independent expert and the work of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, as well as other thematic mandates, have revealed disturbing attacks and violence against members of religious minorities and their places of worship, affecting Buddhist, Christian, Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslim, and other religious minorities in several regions. Such violent attacks have been documented in numerous countries and different regions and are not confined to any one region. Long-standing and new forms of anti-religious extremism and the use of the internet and social media to spread hate speech and encourage discrimination and violence must be condemned at the highest levels.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Priorities for the work of the Independent Expert and the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 2012, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Based on the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the independent expert has identified a number of thematic priorities that will feature in her work during her first term as mandate holder. These priorities also reflect some of the priorities that have been brought to her attention, and have been raised with her predecessor, by minorities themselves. The independent expert wishes to emphasize that, to the fullest extent possible and in line with the provisions of her mandate, her work will take into account the views of minorities and NGOs as well as other stakeholders and that she will take every opportunity to respond to the concerns of minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Priorities for the work of the Independent Expert and the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 2012, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- The theme of the third session of the Forum was minorities and effective participation in economic life. Minority women are often excluded from the labour market or are at greater risk of unemployment. Barriers to minority women's access to labour markets include lack of professional education and formal qualifications, limited knowledge of the official language, low awareness of job opportunities, geographical location of jobs distant from their place of residence, lack of public infrastructure for child care, and financial difficulties. Cultural traditions and gendered societal roles may further discourage the involvement of minority women in employment or severely limit their options in this regard.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Priorities for the work of the Independent Expert and the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 2012, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- Sex- and minority-based discrimination in hiring, promotion and pay also create significant barriers for minority women. Increasingly informal labour markets - a result of globalization - have brought more women into paid work, but often with low pay, excluded from basic labour protection and employed under poor working conditions. This renders the conditions under which minority women - and all too often young girls - earn incomes that may be insecure, difficult, harmful or even dangerous. Their workload can be made heavier by the lack of such basic amenities as clean water and sanitation, the availability of child-care support and protection against domestic and social violence. Minority girls and women in difficult circumstances are often forced to find survival opportunities outside their communities and home, and can easily fall victim to trafficking, exploitation and illegal migration within or outside their own country, which makes them even more vulnerable.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2012
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- A minority rights-based approach to the protection of the rights of religious minorities is an obligation of all States. Minority rights require a broad protection of the culture, languages, traditions and customs of religious minorities and understanding of leadership and customary law structures that might result, for example, in consideration of special or autonomous arrangements. It requires the State to take positive measures both in respect to the rights of minorities to enjoy and practise their religion and all aspects of their identity, and also in respect to their equal place in society and their ability to participate fully in economic, political and social life.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- The scope of both minority rights and freedom of religion or belief is wide and inclusive. This is clear from the relevant norms enshrined in articles 18 and 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the related General Comments 22 and 23 of the Human Rights Committee relating to the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and minority rights, respectively. Minorities are to enjoy culture, religion and language, and freedom of religion or belief is to include manifestation in "worship, observance, practice and teaching". This scope is also upheld in other instruments such as articles 14 and 30 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Those standards therefore call upon States to seek to allow for and actively facilitate the adequate functioning of religious minorities in all their related activities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Many States have established registration processes in order for religious communities to be able to become legally recognized and benefit from legal and policy measures enabling them to manage their communal activities. However, some States base recognition on historical provisions and structures and consequently grant recognition to only a few religious minorities present in the State. States with a dominant State-religion relationship may be strongly influenced by that religion's dictates regarding which religious minorities are officially recognized and which are not. States with a dominant State-ideology relationship or secular States alike may not understand the range of community activities associated with religious minority "existence and continuity" and, whether intentionally or otherwise, may restrict the legitimate enjoyment of related rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- Schools may serve as sites for the perpetuation of a singular religious or ideological ideal, failing to take on board religious or belief diversity, erasing all symbols of such difference, and aiming to assimilate all into an (intolerant) national "unity". In some countries, regions or schools with diverse religious communities teach only the majority religion. For example, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited by the Independent Expert in 2012, Bosniak, Croat and Serb communities remain largely divided along religious and ethnic lines. Religious education is provided only in the majority religion and serves to reinforce differences and exacerbate divisions between young people and communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Youth
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- International norms insist upon non-discrimination on the basis of religion in relation to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including in relation to the right to education. The four standards considered to be interrelated and essential features for implementation of the right to education (availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability) are also relevant in terms of the availability of and access to education for religious minorities. Regarding the latter, the Human Rights Committee explained that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights permits public school instruction in subjects such as the general history of religions and ethics if it is given in a neutral and objective way, whereas public education that includes instruction in a particular religion or belief is inconsistent with article 18.4 unless provision is made for non-discriminatory exemptions or alternatives that would accommodate the wishes of parents and guardians (see CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.5, para. 6).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Families
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- A full picture requires up-to-date disaggregated data, research by national statistical bodies, academia or civil society actors. This should be updated regularly in order to pick up on changes to birth rates, migration flows and patterns of belief. Research should be sophisticated enough to reveal the different situations of women, young people and others who may face particular challenges. It should include beliefs as well as religions. As a basic minimum standard, regular census surveys should include voluntary questions on religion that allow individuals to self-identify and that provide a valuable resource for deeper statistical analysis.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- Minority representation in the media is one such key concern. The knowledge base of the public is often more limited concerning the culture, values and positions of minorities since they are commonly numerically smaller in number and are not the holders of power. It may be the case that outreach to minority communities is required to encourage participation, seek expertise and build trust, as well as to encourage those from minorities to take up opportunities provided by the media and to become active in producing and contributing to media content. In addition to such access to the mainstream media, minorities have the right to establish their own media and should be supported in efforts to do so.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) identifies more than 6,000 languages spoken globally, most of which can be considered minority languages. For minorities, language is a central element and expression of their identity and of key importance in the preservation of group identity. Language is often particularly important to non-dominant communities seeking to maintain their distinct group and cultural identity, sometimes under conditions of marginalization, exclusion and discrimination. Today significant challenges are faced by minorities in all regions who speak minority languages and wish to maintain and use them in public and private life. Linguistic minorities are frequently also national, ethnic or religious minorities and consequently the challenges they face may be exacerbated by discrimination on the grounds of their ethnicity, religion or nationality.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Historical factors such as colonialism have had a huge global impact on languages, resulting in the marginalization of indigenous and minority languages and a rapid decline in their use. The introduction of colonial languages in Africa, Asia and the Americas initiated the marginalization of native and minority languages. Colonial languages were promoted in education, administration, political life and communications. Minority and indigenous languages were often seen as backwards, a barrier to colonial hegemony, or as slowing national development. It can also be argued that today globalization is having a direct and detrimental impact on minority languages and linguistic diversity, as global communications and marketplaces require global understanding.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- A common problem faced by minorities is that minority languages are frequently not used in national or local administration or as the language of instruction in schools. Consequently those belonging to minorities may face barriers to their full participation in public life and children from minorities may be disadvantaged in education from an early age. While accurate and detailed disaggregated data are scarce in most countries, evidence suggests that those belonging to linguistic minorities are at greater risk of experiencing poor socioeconomic indicators relative to majority populations, poorer educational access and worse education outcomes, and consequently lower incomes and disproportionate levels of poverty.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Failure to recognize minority languages may stem from a broader lack of State recognition and acknowledgement of an ethnic or linguist minority group. This may be due to a number of factors, including historical, geographical and political factors and tensions over land and territory. Hence some minorities claim that a process of cultural assimilation may take place that constitutes a grave violation of their rights. In countries with federal structures, the imposition of local or regional languages as the official language of regional states has reportedly resulted in members of some linguistic communities being rendered functionally illiterate and excluded from participation in the public life of the regions in which they live, including on the basis of their lack of language proficiency.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- The South African Constitution (art. 6) recognizes as official languages Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu, as well as English, and requires the State to take practical and positive measures to elevate the use of those languages, recognizing the “historically diminished use and status” of some languages. Municipalities must take account of language usage and preferences of their residents, including in education. The 2010 revised Constitution of Kenya has provisions for minorities, including article 7, which requires the State to protect the diversity of language of the people of Kenya and promote the development and use of indigenous languages. Article 44 establishes the right to use the language of a person’s choice and to form cultural and linguistic associations. Article 56 requires the State to establish affirmative action programmes to ensure that minorities and marginalized groups can develop their cultural values, languages and practices, including in the field of education.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- In some national contexts Governments have imposed prohibitive restrictions on the use of minority languages in public spheres, including in political life. Under such circumstances minorities have even faced prosecution for exercising their right to use their language publicly, for example in the context of political campaigns. Such actions may be imposed in the context of efforts to stringently enforce the use of a single national language or assimilate minority communities via restrictions on their language use. In some cases, inter-ethnic or inter-religious conflict may motivate such restrictions designed to marginalize and exclude a particular population group. Few cases have been reported of restrictions on the use of minority languages in private life; however, aggressive promotion of a national language and restrictions on education in the mother tongue may be interpreted by members of a minority as attempts to assimilate them or eradicate minority language use in all spheres.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- In some countries the use of minority languages has been deemed a threat to national unity and an attempt by minorities to reinforce territorial or separatist claims and has consequently been restricted or banned. Restrictions on language use have been reported alongside alleged prohibitions on aspects of cultural life, including song or theatre performances in minority languages, or political and civil society activities. In those contexts minority languages may become highly emotive issues, and such prohibition is a significant cause of grievances for minority communities. Any restriction on the use of minority languages and freedom of expression must be fully justified and proportionate. Attempts to prohibit or abolish the use of minority languages constitute a gross violation of minority rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- While it is legitimate to promote a common State language, certain factors should be taken into account to ensure that such promotion does not become discriminatory in practice. The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities has emphasized that an appropriate balance is required between strengthening the State language on the one hand, and protecting the linguistic rights of persons belonging to national minorities on the other. In some situations historical grievances relating to language use, including the previous imposition of non-native languages, have been reported; however, such issues do not constitute legitimate grounds for restrictions to be imposed on the use of any language in public or private or failure to fully implement minority rights relating to language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- The minority rights principles of non-discrimination, equality, participation and consultation must be respected, including with respect to language, to ensure that the issues and views of minorities are taken into account and their needs are adequately addressed. Linguistic minorities must be consulted and have a full and meaningful role in decisions affecting them, including relating to the shaping of language policy and practice, nationally and in the regions in which they live, in such key areas as education and official and administrative communications. Their views, perspectives and concerns should be fully taken into account to ensure that language issues do not become sources of grievances or conflict.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Proficiency in the State language is sometimes a requirement for access to citizenship and has proved problematic for some who lack such proficiency. While it is legitimate for States to impose some language requirements in order for minorities to fully integrate into society and have access to opportunities for employment, no undue restrictions should be imposed, for example for those who have been long-term residents of a country. Language proficiency should not be the primary criteria for or a barrier to acquisition of citizenship, particularly where official languages have changed. Adequate language-education opportunities should be made available, including for those who may face particular challenges due to such factors as age, income or the locality in which they live.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- If key public information materials are not available in minority languages, minorities can find themselves at a disadvantage and might fail to benefit from essential information and service provision. Those who are not proficient in the national language may face significant challenges as regards access to information. For example, some ethnic and linguistic minorities live in remote regions and do not speak the national language, therefore public information campaigns do not reach them or they cannot understand them. While some may speak national languages, they may not be literate; thus, even where campaigns do physically reach communities, it is important that they be in minority languages.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- In such crucial areas as health-care information and access, minorities may be placed in a position of disadvantage and vulnerability if information is not provided in their languages. Public information and awareness-raising initiatives relating to such areas as preventative health advice, HIV/AIDS, and maternal health are essential to improving the health outcomes of disadvantaged and poor communities. This information should be available in minority languages and in media accessible to minorities. Initiatives such as the training and employment of minority language mediators can be valuable in delivering information to communities and assisting in their interactions with service providers.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- Barriers such as language, poverty and poor education often exclude minorities from such roles as medical professionals, teachers and social workers. In areas where linguistic minorities live, the commitments to ensuring rights and service delivery to them may require dedicated training programmes that specifically target minority communities, with the aim of ensuring an adequate supply of key service staff. Minority professionals should be given incentives to remain in minority areas where they can provide vital services in minority languages. Where challenges exist to the recruitment or training of minority professionals, those from majority groups who work in minority regions should be required and given incentives to learn minority languages. Data relating to access to services for minority groups is particularly important, and practices such as the recruitment of minority survey staff should be employed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- Some persons belonging to minorities may face particular challenges in learning the national language, including the elderly and those who have not attended education in their country of residence, those with low incomes, the relatively newly arrived, and in some cases women. For them, the ability to engage administrative authorities and receive information and documents in their language can be essential to their ability to comply with administrative requirements and to benefit from administrative and social assistance to which they are entitled. Where larger and established minority language communities exist in a country, it is necessary to ensure to the fullest extent possible that public institutions in all relevant regions are equipped to handle interactions in minority languages if required.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- Other relevant factors which contribute to the outbreak of violence include past and unresolved grievances, a history of ethnic and/or religious tensions between groups without reconciliation, agitation of ethnic or religious components by political leaders, and impunity when perpetrators act without consequences. The Special Rapporteur has noted concern regarding the extent of violence against religious minorities, including in her report to the General Assembly in 2013 (A/68/268) in which she stated that acts of violence and widespread and systematic violations of human rights - sometimes by the State itself - threaten the very existence of religious minorities in some States or territories. The international community should pay particular attention to States in which violence has been targeted against certain population groups with impunity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Caught between warring factions, minorities in Iraq have been the targets of violence for more than a decade. In 2014, the targeting of minorities has continued and intensified under the so-called Islamic State which took control of much of the country. The Special Rapporteur, along with another United Nations expert, issued a press release in July 2014, in which she expressed her grave concern about the physical safety of several minority groups in Iraq, including Christians, Shia, Shabaks, Turkmen and Yazidis, who were being persecuted on the grounds of their religion and ethnicity. She urged the Iraqi Government and the international community to do their utmost to protect vulnerable civilians and minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- In some cases, violence or the threat of violence against certain stigmatized minority communities is common and almost socially accepted. Despite legislation in India (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, adopted in 1989) which bans caste-based discrimination, violence against Dalits remains widespread and their access to justice poor. In May 2013, the Special Rapporteur, along with other United Nations experts, noted that caste-based discrimination remained widespread and deeply rooted, that its victims faced violence, structural discrimination, marginalization and systematic exclusion and that the level of impunity was very high.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- In Colombia, which was visited by the former Independent Expert on minority issues in 2010, Afro-Colombians reported ongoing violence, selective murders, disappearances, threats and communities forced to flee, despite Government claims that the armed conflict had ended. The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions found that indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities had been victimized by all parties to Colombia's conflicts and that, historically, paramilitaries, sometimes in collusion with State forces, had appropriated land and committed massacres to intimidate local populations (A/HRC/14/24/Add.2, para. 76). Resource exploitation, agriculture and mega-projects have created new motivations for violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- In its commentary on the Declaration (see E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/2), the Working Group on Minorities stated that the protection of the existence of minorities included their physical existence, their continued existence on the territories on which they lived and their continued access to the material resources required to continue their existence on those territories, and that they should neither be physically excluded from the territory nor excluded from access to the resources required for their livelihood. The Working Group considered that the right to existence in its physical sense was sustained by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and that forced population transfers intended to move persons belonging to minorities away from the territory on which they lived, or with that effect, would constitute serious breaches of contemporary international standards, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- The establishment of domestic legal protection for minority rights is an essential first step; however, legislative measures alone are not sufficient to protect minorities from violence. Ensuring institutional attention to minority issues constitutes an essential measure to prevent violence, particularly in countries in which historical tensions and violence may have been evident. Dedicated institutional attention increases the Government's capacity to protect minorities in practice and to respond to situations that arise. It promotes engagement with minorities and enables threats to be identified and responded to at an early stage.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (see General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex) states that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law. The Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence represents an important step taken by the international community to assist States in implementing their obligations, and provides guidance on balancing freedom of expression, which is protected under article 19 of the Covenant, with article 20. As recommended in the Plan of Action, States should ensure intercultural dialogue and mechanisms and dialogues to foster intercultural and interreligious understanding and learning. States should also promote human rights education and sensitize law enforcement and security forces.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- [Violence against minorities may be difficult to predict and rapidly develop based on a particular event or trigger. However, in some cases warning signs are evident long before violence breaks out and opportunities exist to prevent it at an important early stage. What is essential is that early warning indicators lead to early action to avert violence. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has elaborated indicators relating to the threat of genocide. These and similar indicators can and should be used to identify lower-level risk of violence against minorities. Fifteen indicators were elaborated to assess the existence of factors known to lead to conflict and genocide (see A/60/18, chap. II), and can be summarized as follows:] Statements that express support for the superiority of a race or an ethnic group, dehumanize and demonize minorities, or condone or justify violence
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- [Violence against minorities may be difficult to predict and rapidly develop based on a particular event or trigger. However, in some cases warning signs are evident long before violence breaks out and opportunities exist to prevent it at an important early stage. What is essential is that early warning indicators lead to early action to avert violence. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has elaborated indicators relating to the threat of genocide. These and similar indicators can and should be used to identify lower-level risk of violence against minorities. Fifteen indicators were elaborated to assess the existence of factors known to lead to conflict and genocide (see A/60/18, chap. II), and can be summarized as follows:] Violence or severe restrictions targeting minority groups perceived to have traditionally maintained a prominent position
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- The establishment of mechanisms and processes to raise and respond to alarms is essential to preventing and stopping violence. Ensuring appropriate community liaison promotes trust and establishes and maintains strong and efficient channels of communication between communities and law-enforcement bodies. Identifying the individuals, communities or locations, community leaders or high profile places of worship or congregations that are most at risk is an important step. Increasing a visible security presence in key locations, including places of worship or nearby identified at-risk communities, is a deterrent to violence. In remote locations where there is a low presence of authorities, it may be necessary to establish a security presence to protect local communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- Careful consideration must be given to the training of law enforcement personnel and their ability to respond appropriately and effectively to violent situations, their ethnic or religious make-up, and their motivation. Often minorities are poorly represented in law enforcement bodies and have poor relations with them. Such bodies are largely made up of members of the majority or of certain ethnic or religious groups. As key protection actors, law enforcement personnel must be objective in their response to situations of possible or actual violence against any community. Nevertheless, even a small law enforcement presence can be critical in preventing or stopping violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Numerous positive practices can help to ensure that law enforcement bodies and officers act appropriately to protect minority communities, without prejudice. These include: initiatives to recruit and maintain personnel from minorities in law enforcement bodies, including at senior levels (e.g. the National Black Police Association in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Fraternal Association of European Roma Law Enforcement Officers, established in Budapest); deployment of ethnically and religiously mixed battalions to areas of intercommunal tension; training of law enforcement personnel in human and minority rights with specific attention to understanding communities and territories to which they are deployed; introduction of community or proximity policing, in which law enforcement actors develop strong local relations with and knowledge of local conditions and at-risk communities; and establishment of independent oversight bodies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- In Nepal, according to UNDP, life expectancy of a Hill Dalit was 61 in 2009 compared to 68 for a higher caste Hill Brahmin. A 2011 Open Society Foundation study reported that Roma are disproportionately unvaccinated, have poorer than average nutrition and experience higher rates of infant mortality and tuberculosis. There is evidence that life expectancy among Roma communities is 10 to 15 years lower than in non-Roma communities. In Cameroon, visited by the Independent Expert in 2013, the access to health and health situation of Pygmy communities is extremely poor relative to other population groups. In Pakistan, UNICEF reports that the maternal mortality ratio for Baluchistan - largely inhabited by the Baluchi minority - is 758 per 100,000 live births, almost three times the national average of 276 per 100,000 and far from the MDG target of 140 per 100,000.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- Economic exclusion is a cause, a manifestation and a consequence of discrimination against minorities. As was strongly emphasized at the World Conference against Racism in Durban in 2001, poverty can contribute to the persistence of racist attitudes and practices, which in turn generate more poverty, a situation coined as the "vicious cycle of poverty". Many minorities have historically been excluded from full and effective participation in economic life, both in the developed and developing world. Minorities face discrimination when they seek employment due to their colour, religion, language or names. Minorities are poorly represented even in public-sector employment, including where legislation bans discrimination in public and private sectors. They may face barriers in accessing credit or loans and may live in the poorest or remote regions that offer limited prospects for their economic development. Large-scale economic development projects or commercial activities carried out on the lands where minorities live frequently have negative impacts, including displacement, perpetuation of poverty and, in some cases, violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Discussions on the post-2015 agenda must take into account evidence that indicates that a rapidly increasing proportion of the world's poor are minority groups. In many situations globally, in both developing and developed countries, poverty takes on ethnic, religious and linguistic dimensions. An honest assessment of why minority groups face more severe challenges reveals that discrimination and exclusion form a launching pad for a host of obstacles for minorities. At the national level, long-term success in poverty reduction and in reaching development targets for minorities requires an investment in tackling the root causes of inequality, as well as its symptoms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- In core documents emerging from the consultations on the post 2015 agenda, there is little, if any, recognition that minorities experience multiple and intersectional challenges that create vulnerability across a range of areas under consideration. For example, a focus on rural/urban disparities fails to acknowledge that minorities are frequently rural and remote communities with poor access to services and basic needs. Consideration of household wealth disparities rarely makes the link between low income and belonging to a minority. It is often women from disadvantaged minorities who are most affected by poor access to education and decent employment and who suffer multiple discrimination as they are women, members of a minority and poor. When the maps of poverty, access to basic services, gender discrimination, poor housing and population groups are overlaid, minorities stand out as being the most in need. The nexus between minorities, poverty and inequality cannot be ignored.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Calls for inequality to be addressed more clearly are coming from a wide group of experts. On 21 May 2013 a group of 18 United Nations human rights mandate holders called for the post 2015 development agenda to be urgently refocused on equality, social protection and accountability. The statement highlighted that: The rise of inequality has severely undermined the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals … Future goals must be sensitive to who benefits and at whose expense, and must go beyond blunt, aggregate targets that allow us to pick the "low-hanging fruit" and ignore the most vulnerable groups, while leaving systemic injustices untouched … Making equality a cross-cutting priority would mean every new goal will confront head on the systemic injustices that drive inequalities, from institutional discrimination against minority groups to uneven investments in social services in different regions of a country.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- A major barrier in assessing and tackling disparities is the lack of data disaggregated by ethnicity, religion or language. Data is vitally important for effective poverty reduction and yet, within aid modalities on poverty, the collection of ethno-cultural disaggregated data is not uniformly supported. In 2005, UNDP published MDG Monitoring and Reporting: A Review of Good Practices, wherein it recommends that, "Whenever possible, disaggregated data should be used to highlight disparities across gender, ethnicity, geographical location, age or other dimensions of inequality". In a few countries where disaggregated data exist, these reflect clearly the inequalities between majority and minority groups. Equally, they provide essential baseline data upon which to base targeted interventions and monitor progress. Each of the countries mentioned below has, to some extent, recognized the challenges facing minorities revealed by such data and established programmes targeted towards them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- The huge impact of conflict and instability on minorities in Iraq has been documented, including for Muslim minorities, Baha'is, Christians, Armenians, Chaldo-Assyrians, Faili Kurds, Palestinians, Jews, Sabian Mandaeans, Yazidis and others. Minority Rights Group states that: "Minorities in Iraq have continued to be targeted on the grounds of their religion or ethnicity since the US-led invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. They have suffered from killings, kidnappings, torture, harassment, forced conversions and the destruction of homes and property." Persecution, human rights violations and targeted attacks have led to vast numbers of internally displaced persons and a mass exodus of minority communities to neighbouring countries, where they continue to experience severe challenges and poverty. Equally, in Egypt and the Syrian Arab Republic, the full extent of unrest and conflict on minorities is becoming evident and has far-reaching implications for their rights and security.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- In Rakhine State in Myanmar, conflict between the Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya communities erupted in 2012 and resulted in the killing of hundreds, the destruction of homes and property and the internal displacement of over 130,000 people, mostly minority Muslims. Tens of thousands of displaced people, and many thousands of others in villages affected by the conflict and insecurity, now have no access to livelihood activities or income, are dependent on humanitarian assistance for food, shelter, health care, education and water and sanitation. The conflict has had a catastrophic impact on their rights, access to essential services and development, forcing many into a condition of extreme poverty and insecurity. The Government of Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as citizens with implications for their enjoyment of all their human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Poverty
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2014
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- It has been suggested that harsher sentencing can result from bias introduced by interpretation, because of cultural differences unintentional expression of the interpreter's preconceptions, or negative perceptions of the accused's or the witness's credibility by the court or jury due to interpretation. Caution must be exercised when using a non-certified translator or interpreter, and all interrogation and other records should specify the identity and status of any such person. If translation is a minimum requirement in all cases, it is clear that it does not necessarily provide the fullest possible guarantee of fairness.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Judges should be aware of the diversity of society, and should act to counter any prejudice against minorities on the part of the persons under their direction or of lawyers appearing before them. Numerous jurisdictions have published guidance, endorsed by chief justices and judicial councils and developed through inclusive processes, to inform and sensitize the judiciary to the situation of minorities in order to prevent discrimination, whether explicit or implicit. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights recently condemned the use of ethnic stereotypes and social prejudices in judges' reasoning.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- Minority victims may be reluctant to report the crime to police, owing to a history of negative experiences with the authorities, lack of faith in the justice system, or lack of knowledge of their rights or lack of practical information such as on where and how to make a complaint. They may fear that bringing themselves to the attention of the authorities will generate more suspicion and result in persecution of themselves, their family or their community. They may have a fear of reprisals from the perpetrators of the crime owing to a lack of confidence that authorities will protect them, pursue the investigation or take the perpetrators into custody. Some may fear deportation, particularly if they do not have recognized legal status in the country.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Families
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Multiple forms of discrimination which may further curtail access to justice can also arise from within the minority community. Minority women may face multiple stigmas in relation to their ethnic or religious background, their sex, and the nature of the crime of which they were the victim. In India, for instance, Dalit women subjected to violence reportedly face unnecessary delays and pressure to drop charges, which are linked to a combination of their gender and minority status. In some countries of Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia, parental attitudes can limit minority children's access to justice: girls in particular are expected to remain silent about problematic family situations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Women
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- Police, prosecutors, judges and lawyers should demonstrate sensitivity and cultural familiarity when questioning or taking testimony from minority victims. For instance, the Special Rapporteur has been a witness to the questioning of a Roma woman who had been sterilized without her consent, and faced serious cultural and religious challenges in explaining her experience to the authorities. The rude response of the authorities imposed additional suffering, thereby deepening the impact of the original violation. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) publication entitled "The status and role of prosecutors: a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and International Association of Prosecutors guide" recommends that protocols be established to guide prosecutors when dealing personally with those who require special assistance, so as to ensure their full participation in the criminal process.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is alarmed by the high number of complaints reaching her about hateful messages and incitement to hatred that have fuelled tensions and often led to hate crimes. In her 2014 report to the General Assembly (A/69/266), she focused on violence and atrocity crimes against minorities and listed cases of attacks against minority groups that she had brought to the attention of Member States concerned, either through communications (letters of allegation or urgent action letters) or public press releases. She believes that more should be done to monitor and react, in a timely manner, to hate speech and incitement to hatred and violence to prevent tensions and violence which damage the entire social fabric, unity and stability of societies. Tolerance and inaction reinforce the subordination of targeted minorities, making them more vulnerable to attacks, but also influencing majority populations and potentially making them more indifferent to the various manifestations of such hatred.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- In Europe, in 2008, the Fundamental Rights Agency conducted a survey of 23,500 respondents from ethnic minority and immigrant groups to assess how many had been victims of assault, threat or serious harassment with a perceived racist motive. The survey found that between 16 per cent and 32 per cent of Roma, and between 19 per cent and 32 per cent of persons of African origin reported being victims of racial discrimination. Another survey of 5,900 respondents in nine European Union Member States found that up to one third of Jewish people had experienced verbal abuse or physical anti-semitic violence. The Special Rapporteur considers that many incidents could be prevented with timely and appropriate responses to hateful messages, including through better representation and inclusion of minorities in mainstream communication platforms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- There are numerous examples, both historical and present-day, of how media is used as a means of portraying minority groups in an offensive and stereotyped way and, in the most extreme cases, to directly incite violence. The Nazi regime used media for a massive propaganda campaign against Jews, Roma, Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals and others. A propaganda ministry controlled the media, exerting censorship on books and authors to suppress opposing viewpoints and to reinforce Nazi ideology of racial superiority and anti-Semitism. Jews were repeatedly portrayed as the cause of societal problems and dehumanized in the public discourse. Around six million Jews, as well as Roma and others were murdered in the Nazi Holocaust.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, media played a major role in supporting and inciting ethnic hatred and violence against Tutsi and moderate Hutu populations. The newspaper Kangura spread hatred against Tutsis, publishing articles and graphic cartoons in which Tutsis were attacked. A wider audience was reached by radio stations, which were key in transmitting hate propaganda and incitement to violence. Radio Rwanda and Radio Télévision des Milles Collines (RTML) instigated, encouraged and directed massacres. Hate messages broadcast during the genocide referred to Tutsis as "cockroaches" and issued instructions to kill them. Nearly one million people were killed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- In the post-9/11 era, Islam and Muslims have been subject to stigmatization and hostility in Western media. Certain media outlets have identified Islam with terrorism, which, according to the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, is a major driver of resurgent Islamophobia around the world (E/CN.4/2006/17). Despite many civil society organizations delivering pro-Muslim discourses after the September 11 attacks, anti-Islamic fringe organizations have exploited mass media to spread messages of fear and anger. The former Independent Expert on minority issues noted in a report (A/HRC/13/23/Add.2) that members of Muslim and Arab communities in Canada stated that negative stereotypes had been reinforced since September 2001, including in the mass media, resulting in their reluctance to engage in public debate or raise their concerns.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- While the Special Rapporteur is aware that the reasons for the marginalization of Roma are complex, she insists that an overarching factor is the deeply embedded social and structural discrimination Roma face worldwide, including anti-Gypsyism. Anti-Gypsyism has been defined by the Council of Europe as "a specific form of racism, an ideology founded on racial superiority, a form of dehumanisation and institutional racism nurtured by historical discrimination, which is expressed, among others, by violence, hate speech, exploitation, stigmatisation and the most blatant kind of discrimination". Anti-Gypsyism therefore includes strong anti-Roma prejudices and stereotypes, including those that lead to labelling Roma communities as criminal, aggressive, or as "parasites" on welfare systems. The Special Rapporteur welcomes recent European Union recognition that anti-Gypsyism constitutes a major obstacle to overcoming Roma disadvantage and marginalization.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- In Brazil in 2015, the Commission on Minorities and Human Rights of the Congress held a public hearing to discuss policies aimed at protecting the rights of the Roma ethnic minority in Brazil. In addition, the Secretariat for the Promotion of Social Equality recently organized a National Week on Roma. The initiative, which gathered over 300 Roma from different regions, members of civil society organizations and government representatives, facilitated discussions about challenges in relation to Roma access to health care, housing, education, social and culture programmes. The programme adopted a set of recommendations and launched a guide on public policies aimed at raising awareness of Roma rights in Brazil.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Outside Europe, there are major gaps with regard to identifying and understanding Roma identity. Many States still continue to deny the existence of Roma as a minority group within their populations, or consider them outsiders, migrants or foreigners. When statistics do exist at the national level, they are often based on censuses, but many Roma do not disclose their identity in census surveys due to a lack of inclusion of the category of Roma as an identity within the census, a reluctance to identify as Roma for fear of being discriminated against, or a lack of options for indicating multiple identities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur notes the importance of direct, efficient funding mechanisms for Roma organizations. However, even within the European Union, where significant funds are dedicated to addressing Roma disadvantage, challenges remain. Firstly, within the European Union, not all of the available funds for Roma are being spent or efficiently invested and the level of expenditure on this issue, especially by new member States, is very small. This results in many cases in funds being directed towards short-term projects that are incapable of achieving any long-term, sustainable impact, therefore reducing their positive impact on Roma communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- Statelessness also disproportionately affects Roma, who despite being born in or having long-standing ties to a country, speaking the local language and having no other country of citizenship, often have no access to nationality. Lack of documentation also hampers not only Roma political participation, but also access to services, thereby reinforcing the vicious circle of poverty and marginalization. An NGO report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on Ukraine indicated that up to 40 per cent of Roma in the Odessa region lack at least one of the documents necessary to access a range of services. In the Russian Federation, lack of personal documentation prevents Roma from accessing employment, social allowances and health care, and from voting or accessing education in some schools due to discriminatory practices of school authorities. In 2004, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed concern about allegations concerning discrimination faced by Roma with regard to birth registration and access to schools for their children in Brazil.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph