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Update on report on statelessness as a minority issue and the level of awareness-raising and visibility of minorities and their human rights
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2019
- Document code
- A/HRC/40/64
Document
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 79
- 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 and all 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
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- OSCE has established a specific mechanism to address conflicts involving minorities, the High Commissioner on National Minorities. The High Commissioner acts as an early warning and early action mechanism, primarily through the use of preventive diplomacy. The High Commissioner can visit countries, engage with representatives of all sides, and propose constructive solutions based on a broad knowledge of approaches worldwide. The High Commissioner has developed a number of guidelines to help national and international actors to address issues that have a potential to cause conflict, including education, language rights, political participation and the involvement of "kin States" (States whose majority community is ethnically related to a minority in a neighbouring State).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- Reflecting on the experience of regional inter-governmental organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, established in 2003 to consider how the United Nations should address newly arising security, environmental and developmental challenges, recommended that the United Nations build on the experience of regional organizations in developing frameworks for minority rights (A/59/565, para. 94).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- Historically, channels of communication between the human rights institutions in Geneva and the peace and security bodies in New York have not been optimal. A number of significant improvements have taken place, notably the enhancement of the status of a New York presence of OHCHR, now headed by an Assistant Secretary-General, and regular briefings to the Security Council by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- The special procedures of the Human Rights Council, including the independent expert on minority issues, and the treaty monitoring bodies are well placed to identify the warning signs of impending conflicts, including those affecting minorities. In October 2009, a United Nations round table on special procedures entitled "Early Warning and Emerging Issues" was held in New York. Participants emphasized the contribution that these mechanisms can make to a better understanding of complex situations, for example involving systemic exclusion and discrimination of certain minority groups. Participants recommended strengthening the capacity of the special procedures to contribute to early warning, including by ensuring that their recommendations were communicated more effectively to the United Nations field presences, and ensuring that data revealing patterns of severe abuses were communicated as early warnings.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- Discussions about pooling the outputs of the early warning systems of the various funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations and the possible development of a common system have not made significant progress owing to the complexities of the systems and the different needs of each body. An achievable aim could be to pool best practices to be made available to United Nations Headquarters and in-country teams, particularly with regard to innovative new practice using computer technology to compile and process large quantities of context-specific data.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- UNICEF both generates and monitors country-specific data that may reveal situations of emerging conflict. Its activities focusing on the most marginalized and vulnerable women and children position it uniquely to play an early prevention role with respect to minority rights. Given that minority children are often the most disadvantaged, there is a sound basis for the engagement of UNICEF in minority issues. With a wide network of offices worldwide, UNICEF is in an important position to encourage the introduction of minority issues on Government public policy agendas, to support Government efforts and directly deliver assistance to minority children and women. The UNICEF field presence is common in conflict zones, and its focus on protection issues makes it an institution with key relevance to conflict prevention. At UNICEF headquarters, there is a cluster of professionals whose portfolios include minority rights issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- The Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, a conflict prevention bureau within UNDP, currently has no focal point on minorities either; however, UNDP has recently enhanced its understanding of minority issues in development processes through a series of workshops resulting in a resource guide and toolkit for UNDP field staff, which includes guidance on addressing conflict situations (see paras. 15 and 16 above).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- Good practice exists at the policy level and in field operations of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. UNDP operates an early warning system in some of its in-country programmes, often using sophisticated computer mapping, which is designed to map specific local conditions, such as movements of security forces and displaced peoples, presence of weapons, and availability of basic services. A process of broad consultations with local communities is frequently incorporated. UNDP has developed a capacity to identify the root causes of conflicts, notably through deployment of peace and development advisers to country teams who help in conducting conflict analyses. Experience has shown that context-specific systems that mix qualitative and quantitative indicators and political analysis are effective, if highly resource intensive.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- The Inter-Agency Framework for Coordination on Preventative Action (Framework team) is an informal forum for inter-agency exchange of information and collaboration involving 21 different United Nations entities (A/64/864, paras. 7-13). The Framework team is a mechanism that shares information on potential crises and works together to support the development of inter-agency conflict prevention initiatives. As such it is a key part of the United Nations conflict prevention architecture. The Framework team is designed to support the United Nations country team in countries that show early signs that a situation, whether at the regional, national or sub-national level, is likely to lead to violence. The programme initiatives are designed to address the issues at the early upstream stage in the conflict cycle, so that the situation does not escalate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- Several United Nations offices and agencies have information assessment, early warning and conflict prevention functions. The Department of Political Affairs is the lead agency for conflict prevention and peacemaking. Within the Department, the standby team of mediation experts, an innovative unit established in March 2008, plays an important role. The team is on call to provide expertise on specific issues to United Nations initiatives to mediate in situations of conflict or potential conflict. This team has provided support and advice to peacemaking and dialogue efforts in several situations involving minorities, including Darfur, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines. The Department has a focal point on indigenous peoples, but not one on minorities. The standby team also does not include a professional with comprehensive expertise on minority rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- In the 2005 World Summit Outcome, States Members of the United Nations conceptualized a principle that is of prime importance to the protection of minorities: the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity - "the responsibility to protect". This concept recognizes the duty of the international community to intervene to protect populations when their own Governments cannot or lack the will to do so. It prioritizes above all the use of appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means, before legitimate force is contemplated. The focus of the institutional mechanisms that are being developed to implement the concept of the responsibility to protect will be limited to specific crimes. A broader focus on minority rights protections as a tool for protection from conflict will need to be the task of other mechanisms.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- An analysis framework is used by the Special Adviser's office to identify threats to minority communities at an early stage. In addition to genocide-specific indicators, such as the demonization of minority communities and a history of genocide in the country, it includes indicators of broader significance to minorities, such as conflicts over land, power, security and expressions of group identity, such as language, religion and culture, and attacks on cultural and religious property and symbols. The Special Adviser's office is privy to an enormous flow of information generated by sources inside and external to the United Nations system. The Special Adviser's gauge for sifting through that information flow is calibrated for precursors to genocide: a focus that is limited, fortunately, to a small number of situations. There is a need for additional tools that focus on chronic abuses of minority rights at the earliest stages, to identify situations needing more upstream preventive action.
- 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
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 66
- 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". 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 attempts to identify a range of potential threats to minority populations at an early stage and make recommendations regarding constructive management of cultural diversity issues.
- 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
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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- Programmes to promote development implemented by Governments and external donors often fail to take into account the inequalities between communities, the unique circumstances of minorities or the possible need for special measures to ensure that minority communities also benefit. Minorities may be adversely affected through displacement by large-scale projects such as dams and natural resource extraction, or as a result of the negative environmental impact. As noted in the 2007 annual report of the independent expert, conflict prevention is one reason why monitoring poverty alleviation among minorities is crucial: if strategies are successful for some groups but not for minorities, inequalities will increase and so too may tension. Inclusive participation strategies for poverty reduction are proven and effective conflict prevention measures (see A/HRC/4/9, para. 43).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- A frequent source of conflict worldwide is discrimination and inequality in relation to land and property. For minority communities, often located in remote rural areas, the land and territories on which they live are a source of food security and income generation as well as being vital to the preservation of minority cultures, traditions and collective identity. However, some minorities find that their rights to own, occupy and use land are limited or violated and they may find themselves displaced or evicted, in some cases to make way for national economic development schemes, the activities of multinational corporations or for natural resources development. Land and property issues should consequently be given close attention in respect of conflict prevention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- Poor education and economic opportunities commonly affect women members of disadvantaged minorities disproportionately. Women may face a scarcity of employment opportunities and discriminatory hiring practices based on prejudice against their minority group. Women generally share a disproportionate burden of care-giving, especially when poverty denies any possible respite or help. The heavy burden imposed on individuals and entire communities by the lack of options often fuels a disturbing culture of domestic violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
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
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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- Consequently, the rights of minorities to participate effectively in economic life must be fully taken into account by Governments seeking to promote equality at every level. From implementing non-discrimination in employment to enforcing corporate responsibility principles and developing national economic development and international development assistance schemes, Governments face the constant challenge of ensuring that the rights of minorities are protected and that they benefit as equal stakeholders in society. In their response to the current global crisis, development agencies, financial institutions and other actors involved in international cooperation also face the challenge of ensuring that measures taken do not negatively impact minority 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- Several factors and challenges can exacerbate this exclusion of minorities, including deteriorating economic conditions, ethnic tensions and rising discrimination. In some countries, unequal regional distribution of resources and services as well as lack of basic infrastructure in regions where minorities live often have the effect of excluding them from fully exercising their economic and social rights. The past decade has also brought into the picture new and unanticipated challenges, including the global food and economic crises that have been proven to have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups and minorities.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- Economic exclusion is a cause, a manifestation and a consequence of discrimination against minorities, both in the developed and in the developing world. Minorities are often discriminated against when they seek employment and 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, have 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)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- The reality - and often the perception - of discrimination in access to any kind of resources, whether in relation to jobs, land ownership, political power or natural resources, is a strong driver of conflict. The 1992 Declaration on Minorities states, in article 4, paragraph 1, that "States shall take measures where required to ensure that persons belonging to minorities may exercise fully and effectively all their human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law".
- 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
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- To denigrate a community's identity as inferior or stereotype it as violent, criminal or "foreign" is discriminatory, a violation of rights and may constitute incitement to racial or religious hatred. It impacts negatively on community members' sense of inclusion in the national identity and encourages prejudicial attitudes and even violent attacks on the community by members of the public. The slope is steep and slippery between statements of disrespect coming from national leaders and hate crimes committed by individuals who feel they have been given license.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Central to the identity of communities are their historical narratives. Inclusion, in that respect, can be achieved through recognition in national policy statements, history textbooks for schools, museums that celebrate the varied cultures of a country and the contributions of all groups to the national identity, and national days of celebration, to name only a few models. Nevertheless, the histories and contributions of minorities are rarely adequately reflected, which contributes to a sense of alienation and exclusion.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- The 1992 Declaration on Minorities, in article 4, paragraphs2 and 3, establishes positive obligations requiring that States take measures to create favourable conditions to enable persons belonging to minorities to express their characteristics and develop their culture, language, religion, traditions and customs. It also requires that States take appropriate measures so that persons belonging to minorities may have adequate opportunities to learn and have instruction in their mother tongue.
- 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
- 2011
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
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
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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- States have significant leeway to decide, in consultation with minority communities, the modalities by which political participation can be achieved. Those measures may include the devolution of certain powers by means of a federal or autonomy arrangement; electoral systems based on proportional representation; a system of reserved seats for minorities in parliament; or the facilitated participation in the electoral process of political parties representing the interests of minorities. Most importantly, the modality for political inclusion must afford minorities genuine influence. Tokenism or State interference in the process of identifying political representatives, for example, may lead to deeper frustrations. Further, full respect for freedoms of expression and assembly is critical.
- 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
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- The effective and meaningful participation of minorities in the political arena can be a pivotal element in avoiding violent conflict. While members of minorities have the right to participate in decision-making processes, particularly those that affect them, minorities are greatly underrepresented in the political processes and governing institutions of most countries for a variety of reasons. They may be intentionally restricted from participation or inadvertently disadvantaged by laws or policies, or there may be a lack of political will to dismantle structural barriers to the full and equal 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
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- National human rights institutions that comply with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights ("the Paris Principles") can also play a constructive role in promoting the positive valuing of diversity and addressing issues that could cause conflict. Such institutions may include designated commissioners for minority issues, or separate, dedicated institutions may be established.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Many States are engaged in ongoing efforts to accommodate the interests of diverse communities. It is critical that the process be guided by the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination. Communities that may be more populous, that have greater disruptive capacities or military strength or that may be more successful in commerce may emerge at an early stage as the principle contenders for distribution of political power and State resources. However, under such conditions, minority rights must be prioritized, enabling members of all minority groups to participate effectively in decisions affecting them and in all aspects of society. Efforts must be made to give voice to the diversity of members within minority communities, including women, youth and the elderly.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Minorities are too often seen as a threat to the State and/or national unity. Governments may hold the erroneous views that national unity is fragile or that new States can be achieved only through the denial or disregard of distinctive aspects of the identity of minorities; that demands by minorities for an equal voice in policymaking will dissipate central authority; that respect for minority languages produces cleavages between ethnic groups or translates into prohibitive government expenditures; or that culturally defined production methods have no place in a modern economy. In such situations Governments may become nervous when ethnic, religious or linguistic groups attempt to assert their identity. There may be an assumption that what those groups want is to separate themselves from the State. However, many conflicts involving minorities start as peaceful demands to be included in the society on the basis of equal treatment.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Conflict prevention is not the sole positive outcome of respect for minority rights. Societies flourish when all voices are heard, when all opinions are considered; when all citizens participate; and when the talent that exists in all communities is enabled to contribute to political institutions. Inclusion is good for societies as a whole, not just for those previously left out. Consequently, creating the conditions for the effective participation of minorities should be considered by States as an integral aspect of good governance and a key priority in their efforts to ensure equality and non-discrimination.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- It has been argued that early warning systems need to combine the collection of disaggregated quantitative data with more in-depth qualitative analysis. Such a course of action would enable the identification of complex interactions between political, social and economic factors that help determine whether violent conflict will break out, and if so, when.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- Some analysts worry about the risk of raising false alarms by flagging concerns at too early a stage. But if the response to an early warning of patterns of discrimination is to work with the Government to set up programmes that correct those patterns, then that has its own value, regardless of the impact on conflict prevention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Minority rights violations are often among the root causes of conflicts that have long gestation periods, root causes grounded in grievances that may bubble under the surface for years, or even decades, before violent conflict breaks out. Incorporating minority rights indicators into early warning systems would enable an earlier identification of potential conflicts. Other more technical early warning indicators, such as small arms flows and movements of displaced peoples, tend to reflect a situation that is already rapidly spiraling into violence. By the time those indicators trigger attention, grievances may have festered for decades, perhaps generations - generations of lost opportunities to heal rifts, avert conflict and build a cohesive society.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- The Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict concluded that time and again in the twentieth century, attempts at suppression of ethnic, cultural or religious differences had led to bloodshed, and in case after case, the accommodation of diversity within appropriate constitutional forms had helped to prevent bloodshed. The Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has conducted research showing that the likelihood of conflict increases with rising group inequality. The Minorities at Risk Project at the University of Maryland monitors indicators for political discrimination, cultural and economic exclusion and persecution on 283 minority groups around the world, and has found a significant link between conflict and those forms of denial of rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- The Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity at Oxford University has undertaken detailed quantitative and qualitative research into conflict and horizontal inequalities (inequalities between ethnic, religious or linguistic communities) in 8 countries in three regions, and statistical desk research in 55 countries. The Centre concluded that in the top 5 per cent of countries with the greatest socio-economic inequalities, the risk of conflict is tripled when compared with the average. The risk of conflict increases again if socio-economic inequalities are combined with inequality in access to political decision-making, and inequality in cultural status adds a further risk factor.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- In 1994, States members of the Organization of African Unity reaffirmed their deep conviction that friendly relations among their peoples as well as peace, justice, stability and democracy, called for the protection of ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of all their people including national minorities and the creation of conditions conducive to the promotion of that identity. In the Americas, the Inter-American Democratic Charter stresses that the elimination of discrimination and respect for cultural diversity contribute to strengthening democracy and citizen participation, which in turn are necessary for ensuring peace, stability and development. In the Copenhagen Document of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the participating States reaffirmed that respect for the rights of persons belonging to national minorities as part of universally recognized human rights was an essential factor for peace, justice, stability and democracy in the participating States.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- With respect to the donor community, it has been recognized that engagements between donors and recipient countries - whether from a conflict prevention or post-conflict peace-building perspective - need to be guided by recognition of the specific injustices suffered by minorities. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which brings together the world's main donor Governments, has developed a set of principles guiding assistance to fragile States, in which it urges member States to promote non-discrimination as a basis for inclusive and stable societies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- The Secretary-General has stated that respecting the rights of children, of women, and of all minorities is at the core of the Charter of the United Nations; it is both a moral obligation and an economic imperative. Discrimination and injustice threaten the goals for peace, security and sustainable development. Preserving minority languages and nurturing ethnic cultures and traditions lays the foundations for lasting stability.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- In the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I), the outcome document of the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, the participating States expressed their concern that socio-economic development was being hampered by widespread internal conflicts which were due, among other causes, to gross violations of human rights, including those arising from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and from lack of democratic, inclusive and participatory governance. It urged States to recognize that techniques, mechanisms, policies and programmes for reconciling conflicts based on factors related to race, colour, descent, language, religion, or national or ethnic origin and for developing harmonious multiracial and multicultural societies needed to be systematically considered and developed (ibid., paras. 21 and 171).
- 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
- All
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- In his landmark report to the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations in 2000, the Secretary-General stated that in many countries at war, the condition of poverty was coupled with sharp ethnic or religious cleavages, and that almost invariably, the rights of subordinate groups were insufficiently respected, the institutions of Government were insufficiently inclusive and the allocation of society's resources favoured the dominant faction over others. He added that the solution was clear: to promote human rights, to protect minority rights and to institute political arrangements in which all groups were represented, and that every group needed to become convinced that the State belonged to all people (A/54/2000, paras. 202-203).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- Since the adoption of the 1992 Declaration on Minorities, the basic assumption contained in its preamble - that the implementation of minority rights contributes to the stability of States - has been taken up and developed further in successive resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights, its successor the Human Rights Council, reports of the Secretary-General and outcome documents of a number of conferences and policy processes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- The protection of minority rights and the prevention of violent conflicts are legitimate goals of independent value to be pursued by the international community. Both goals lie at the heart of the mandate of the United Nations, and States should pursue each one as a valid objective in its own right. However, the fact that these two concerns are so often linked to one another makes it appropriate to consider them together.
- 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
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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- Additionally, women and men members of minorities may be targeted by armed actors in different ways, increasing the forms of violence in the society in general. For example, women are targeted by sexual violence, while men are forcibly recruited into militias. The rape of women, for example, may be intended to humiliate men and demonstrate their inability to protect "their" women.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Men
- Women
- Year
- 2011
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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Equally, in those States that implement protection for minority rights, minorities are more likely to be recognized as equal rights-holders and afforded the full protection of the State from aggression and violence directed against them.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- It is the view of the independent expert that much bloodshed and suffering and many setbacks in the process of national development could be avoided if Governments took a proactive approach to minority rights, putting protections in place long before tensions erupted. Societies in which mechanisms are in place allowing minorities freely to use their language, practice their culture and religion, and participate in political and economic life on an equal footing with the rest of the population are less likely to be societies in which tensions deteriorate into violent conflict.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- The thematic focus of the present report is the role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention. The independent expert considers that among the essential elements of a strategy to prevent conflicts involving minorities are: respect for minority rights; dialogue between minorities and majorities within societies; and the constructive development of practices and institutional arrangements to accommodate diversity within society. Attention to minority rights violations at an early stage before they lead to tensions and violence would make an invaluable contribution to the culture of prevention within the United Nations, save countless lives and promote stability and development.
- 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
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2011
- Document code
- A/HRC/16/45
Document
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Besides its National Human Rights Commission, Nepal also has a National Dalit Commission, which was established in 2002 in recognition of the fact that caste discrimination and untouchability practices continue. It promotes implementation of national and international law and advocated for the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability Act, adopted in May 2011, which criminalized such discrimination in private and public spheres. Among its activities was the organization of a 100-day campaign against caste discrimination, in collaboration with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, launched in September 2011 by the President and the High Commissioner.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- Among other institutions of the Government of Austria, its Equal Treatment Commission is handling ethnic and religious discrimination cases, including those relating to employment and the workplace, and addressing such issues as access to employment, working conditions, harassment and freedom of religion. The Ombudsperson for Equal Treatment of Austria can intervene and negotiate with employers on discrimination cases and submit applications to the Commission. The Ombudsperson offers information on rights and equality, provides training and can impose penalties in cases of discrimination and harassment.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- National commissions exist in numerous countries and may be general bodies or address thematic or group specific issues. For example, the Government of Germany has established a model of minority commissioners who work to promote and ensure liaison between the Government and minorities. At the federal level, there is a commissioner for both national minorities and immigrants who reports to the Minister of the Interior. The Government of Slovenia highlighted its Commission for the Protection of the Roma Ethnic Community and its Commission for the Hungarian and Italian national minority communities, which have representatives from such minority groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- European Union member States must set up equality bodies that address race and ethnicity in compliance with Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin. They are required to provide independent assistance to victims of discrimination on ethnic or religious grounds. They should also conduct independent surveys and publish reports and recommendations relating to discrimination. Consequently, there is a relatively high number of dedicated equality institutions in Europe compared with other regions without such binding directives. Nevertheless, frequently, equality bodies focus primarily on non-discrimination and rarely give essential proactive and dedicated attention to minority issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- An important role of independent human rights bodies is in provision of complaint-handling services. Disadvantaged minorities may be reluctant to report incidents of discrimination or lack information or resources that enable them to make or pursue complaints. Specialist bodies frequently provide legal assistance and advisory services. They may offer alternative pathways, including mediation services that pursue solutions outside the courts and provide relatively quick, free and less formal access to remedies. However complaint-handling activities should include the ability to conduct investigations based on information or complaints received and to initiate or pursue legal action in the courts and/or refer cases to other appropriate bodies, including tribunals.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- Dedicated minority ombudsperson's offices, commissions or racial equality bodies, with clearly defined minority rights mandates, can create strong institutional identity and relatively high issue-visibility. Their mandates commonly demonstrate proactive, wide-ranging activities. The Ombudsman for Minorities of Finland, for example, works to advance the status and legal protection of ethnic minorities, as well as equality, non-discrimination and good ethnic relations. Its activities include: providing guidance on ethnicity issues and information and training on ethnicity; influencing topical issues by participating in public debates; and issuing statements. It supervises compliance with the non-discrimination act, offers legal opinions and advice and undertakes reconciliation.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Owing to financial factors, administrative and resource burdens and the importance of institutional identity, strong general human rights institutions are preferred by many States. However, the European Centre for Minority Issues states that "given the importance of minority issues to both the minority and the majority communities … the appointment of an officer or establishment of a specialized department in the field of minority protection can only be welcomed". In reality, departments or sections may work within less well defined policy and mandate frameworks than those of dedicated bodies, and may face staff and resource restrictions. Senior appointments, including such posts as deputy ombudsperson for minorities, could be regarded as maintaining appropriate high-level focus on minority issues.
- 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
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
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
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
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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- The Government of Latvia noted the existence of three national-level consultative bodies: the Consultative Council on Minorities, under the President; the National Minority Non-Governmental Organization Committee, under the Ministry of Culture; and the National Minority Education Consultative Council, under the Ministry of Education and Science. At the local government level, society integration commissions have broad minority participation. The Government of Georgia provided information on its institutions, including a Civil Integration and Tolerance Council, a Council on National Minorities set up to facilitate dialogue between Government and national minorities, and a Council of Religions, promoting dialogue, integration and participation of religious associations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- The commentary of the Working Group on Minorities of the former Commission on Human Rights to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/2) notes that "States should establish advisory or consultative bodies involving minorities within appropriate institutional frameworks. They should be attributed political weight and effectively consulted on issues affecting the minority population". Advisory and consultative bodies can be permanent or ad hoc. They help to institutionalize dialogue between government and minority representatives and to ensure that minority issues are reflected in local and ideally national policy- and decision-making processes. Appropriate advisory and consultative bodies should therefore exist at the national level and at regional and local levels, where challenges affecting minorities frequently manifested themselves.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- The Act on the Rights of Nationalities of Hungary of 2011 includes the right to establish "nationality self-governments" for recognized minorities, based on a system originally established in 1993. Self-governments provide an institutional framework for cultural autonomy, there being hundreds of self-governments at the local level with elected minority representatives. Similarly, Estonia indicated to the Independent Expert that ethnic minorities have the right to establish institutions of self-government in accordance with the National Minorities Cultural Autonomy Act, and that a Council of Ethnic Minorities exists within the framework of the Ministry of Culture.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Forms of non-territorial or cultural autonomy can also serve to preserve elements of minority history, language and culture and may foster dialogue; they may involve establishing institutional arrangements such as local or minority self-governments. Local self-governments fulfil responsibilities in particular in the field of minority education and cultural self-administration, media, the fostering of traditions and cultural heritage, and social inclusion.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Some States take approaches that allow varying degrees of regional, territorial or political autonomy. Where minorities are geographically concentrated, decentralized forms of government often allow minorities a stronger role in institutions and decision-making bodies. In appropriate circumstances, States have devolved power, and created autonomous or other sub-State divisions or federal systems that may enable minorities to have a more significant and direct impact on matters affecting them. The concept of "subsidiarity" promotes decision-making at the lowest level of government consistent with the goals to be attained and is highlighted as valuable in the context of minority rights, including in recommendations of the Forum on Minority Issues on minorities and effective political participation.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- The Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs of Viet Nam is a ministerial-level body responsible for planning and implementation of ethnic policies and those for mountainous regions where minorities frequently live. It manages the development, implementation and monitoring of programmes, and coordinates liaison between ministries and with international agencies and donors. Its priorities include socioeconomic development programmes designed to address the causes of poverty, improving education and training local officials. It is part of an institutional structure including the Ethnic Council of the National Assembly, which advises the National Assembly on ethnic minority matters and reviews draft laws.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- The National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues of Bulgaria is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister. It coordinates State programmes and policies relating to ethnic minorities and monitors implementation of integration policies, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Non-governmental organizations representing minorities, including Roma, are members. The High Commissioner for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue of the Government of Portugal, within the Ministry of the Presidency of the Council of Ministries, has a specific mandate to address minority rights and a specialist office for support to Roma people.
- 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
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- The Government of Brazil has established institutional attention to Afro-Brazilians in recognition of discrimination and the disproportionate socioeconomic disadvantage of Afro-descendants, including through its ministry dedicated to promoting policies for racial equality, the Secretaria de Políticas de Promoção da Igualdade Racial (SEPPIR). A statute of racial equality (law 12.288), adopted in 2009, reinforces State obligations to guarantee equal opportunities to Afro-Brazilians. Affirmative action projects combat structural inequalities, in particular in respect of access to education, health and employment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- Bosnia and Herzegovina highlighted the existence of a department for the protection of the rights of, and cooperation with, national minorities and religious groups, which exists within the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees. It employs national minorities; in this regard, Roma coordinators work in the Ministry and in four regional offices. A Department for Minorities also operates within the ombudsman's office. Councils of national minorities at the State level and within autonomous entities function to preserve and develop ethnic, national, religious and cultural identity and assist efforts to reintegrate communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- Lithuania informed the Independent Expert of its Division for National Minorities Affairs in the Ministry of Culture. The post of Vice-Minister of culture for national minorities affairs was introduced in 2011, demonstrating the Government's special attention to national minority issues. A Council of National Minorities operates under the Ministry of Culture and plays a key role in consultation on minority issues with public authorities. Twenty-nine recognized national communities are representatives in the Council, which analyses legal acts and makes recommendations concerning the preservation of national identity.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- The Government of Montenegro highlighted the fact that its Ministry for Minority Rights has a mandate to monitor, study and protect minority rights in accordance with the Constitution and international standards. Other ministries and government bodies are mandated to address issues of minority rights within their fields of responsibility, including the Ministries of Justice and Human Rights, Culture, Education and Sports, Internal Affairs, and Labour and Social Welfare.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- Institutional approaches are particularly important that seek to ensure coordinated policy and programming initiatives incorporating all relevant ministries and other national stakeholders. They may develop and take the lead in implementing a national policy framework and devise cross-ministerial strategies and programmes in consultation with minorities and other stakeholders. Holistic, coordinated approaches recognize the interconnected nature of such issues and ministerial priorities such as health and housing, education and employment, and may facilitate policy and programming responses that comprehensively address problems facing minorities and their underlying causes.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- Dedicated Government institutions may elaborate valuable mission statements and objectives providing important political messages on minority inclusion and equality, which may explicitly reflect challenges facing minorities. The Ministry of Minority Affairs of India is "empowering the minority communities and creating an enabling environment for strengthening the multiracial, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multilingual and multi-religious character of our nation", and its objective is "to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the minority communities through affirmative action and inclusive development". Such public commitments provide a valuable opportunity for civil society engagement and advocacy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- Government bodies may benefit from significant, secure funding allocated to State institutions. Relatively high levels of accountability are required of Government bodies regarding appointments to senior positions, annual reports, accounts, and analysis and monitoring of projects and their impact on minorities. They may face valuable scrutiny of their performance by media and civil society. One criticism of Governmental bodies is that they may face review or abolition following changes of political administration. Consequently, they will ideally exist alongside secure independent human rights institutions that also focus attention on minority issues.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Some States have established dedicated governmental bodies, including ministries or Government departments, on minority issues. Such bodies often have primary responsibility for designing, directing and leading government policy on minority issues, but the Independent Expert emphasizes that they are most effective when working closely with other line ministries on minority issues and coordinating mainstreaming across ministries. Such dedicated institutional attention gives a strong signal to minorities and wider society that Government recognizes minority issues and takes them seriously. Some Government bodies or initiatives are given a particularly high public profile and status by placing them under high-level political leadership.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- Governments have the primary responsibility for implementing minority rights. Establishing a Government body, agency, department or equivalent institution with dedicated attention to minority issues provides an institutional focus for government activities and offers the potential for proactive policy and programme initiatives and targeted approaches to the challenges involving minorities. It demonstrates governmental commitment to minority rights and should ensure that minority issues are consistently integrated into governmental policies and, essentially, mainstreamed throughout governmental bodies. Considered briefly below are some forms of institutional attention to minority issues adopted by Governments at the national level.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- While institutional attention to minority issues has financial implications, it can still be cost-effective, particularly where early implementation of minority rights helps to avert tensions among communities. Dedicated programmes can improve minority access to education, training and employment, with benefits to minorities and States resulting from the enhanced participation of minorities in economic life. Studies demonstrate the untapped economic potential within marginalized minorities and that integration is not only a moral and human rights obligation but an economic necessity. Where financial constraints exist, low-cost measures include recruitment of minority experts and consultative methodologies, which can significantly strengthen institutional expertise.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- A recent trend towards integration of specialized minority and ethnic equality bodies into wider human rights institutions has been identified in the European context. Funding issues, rather than real or perceived lack of need, may contribute to decisions to abolish or merge institutions, particularly in the context of the current global financial crisis. However, economic conditions should not be considered a valid reason to reduce necessary attention to minority issues. Merger of institutions should not weaken the required institutional attention and resources dedicated to minority issues or limit their independence or the scope of their work.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Some concerns have been expressed that the establishment of dedicated institutions for minority-related issues or particular groups can be a means of, or result in, sidelining minority issues into parallel, inferior or poorly funded bodies rather than dealing with those issues within appropriate mainstream institutions and processes. Where dedicated institutions or bodies are created, financial resources must be sufficient to enable them to conduct the full range of mandated activities; and separate budget lines should be provided and guaranteed. Where the mandates of existing human rights bodies are enlarged to incorporate minority issues, their capacity, resources and staffing should also be enhanced.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- Outreach is essential to ensuring that potential beneficiaries are aware of institutions and their services. An EU-wide survey of 23,500 people from minority groups by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the Minorities and Discrimination Survey (EU-MIDIS), revealed that over one third of respondents who claimed to have been discriminated against on the grounds of their ethnicity did not know how or where to report their experiences. Some 82 per cent of minority respondents who reported experiencing discrimination did not report their experience to any formal body.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The 2009 survey of national human rights institutions by the Office of the High Commissioner revealed that less than half of respondents described their relationship with marginalized groups as strong. In terms of online accessibility for minority groups, only 8 respondent institutions out of 61 indicated that their website was available in all minority languages. The large majority of respondents did not provide data relating to the proportion of complaints received from minorities or indigenous peoples, indicating that they did not gather disaggregated data relating to the use of services and lacked dedicated attention to such groups. Institutions should develop inclusive and participatory methodologies to ensure consultation with and participation of minorities in all relevant aspects of their work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Minority issues frequently exist in local or regional contexts. Local or sub offices of human rights bodies can develop strong knowledge of localized minority rights issues, monitor evolving situations and build relationships with communities and authorities, and they are well placed to respond effectively to minority issues. Minority communities are more likely to engage with bodies in their localities, particularly those employing staff from minority communities who speak minority languages and maintain community contacts. Local offices assist in the mapping of minority communities and issues and help to ensure that local issues and concerns are reflected in regional- or national-level decision- and policymaking. Further, they can ensure that national policy and programmes reach and benefit minorities in remote regions.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Disadvantaged minorities are often poorly placed with respect to accessing information and services. Poverty, socioeconomic disadvantages, remote localities, and education or language barriers are obstacles to obtaining services and engaging institutions. Some may have negative experiences of interactions with institutions which may not have met their expectations or addressed their concerns. Institutions should establish channels and processes of communication and consultation with minorities and build trust with minority communities. Efforts to raise awareness of the institution and services should target minorities and include advertising in and through minority media and in minority localities. Publications, information and services should be available in minority languages, including through dedicated websites.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- Minorities are often underrepresented in the civil service, police and judiciary owing to barriers including institutional racism, discriminatory recruitment practices, poor educational attainment, and psychosocial factors inhibiting them from seeking employment. Measures including targeted recruitment initiatives should be adopted and promoted in the public and private sectors. Minorities should be represented in oversight and regulatory bodies, for example, those relating to the police service. They can have important advisory roles relating to recruitment and policing practices and should be represented in complaints-handling bodies. Representation of minorities in national media and media regulatory and monitoring bodies helps to ensure appropriate treatment of minority issues by and in the media, which can portray minorities in discriminatory, negative or stereotypic ways.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Minority staff, including senior representatives and staff at all levels, bring crucial experience, expertise and community contacts and can significantly enhance institutional awareness and capacity on minority issues. They can raise attention to minority issues that may have been neglected, perhaps owing to lack of engagement with minority communities or knowledge of minority situations. They bring insight regarding how to interact with communities and address sensitive cultural or religious concerns, and can articulate the views and perspectives of minorities who would otherwise lack a voice. Minorities may be employed in specialist roles or sections; however, they should not be confined to such roles.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- A 2009 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) global survey of national human rights institutions revealed that minorities are poorly represented, with less than half rating their governing body as diverse. It also revealed that minorities are poorly represented as staff at all levels. Minority women are often particularly poorly represented and concrete measures should be taken, including outreach and training initiatives targeted at minorities and specifically at minority women. National institutions should lead by example and ensure that their staff and members fully and publicly reflect the diversity within society. They should be transparent and accountable in their processes to appoint senior representatives. Problems of legitimacy and community trust can result when appointments are considered to have been political or tokenistic and not to have involved minority communities or to have reflected their preferences.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Minorities are often poorly represented in institutions, including human rights bodies and ministries working on central concerns of minorities. Improving minority representation and participation is a vital component of improving the quality of institutional attention to minority rights. As previously noted, political participation is both a right of minorities and essential to their achieving wider inclusion and participation in decision-making at the national and local levels; and consequently, Governments should both monitor the participation of minorities and implement mechanisms and institutional arrangements that ensure their representation in political and decision-making bodies at local and national levels.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Community policing methodologies and measures to ensure that minorities are represented in the police can improve relations between minorities and the police. Good examples of initiatives whose aim is to try to encourage participation of minorities and to enhance effectiveness of law enforcement bodies are the National Black Police Associations in the United States of America, Canada, Bermuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Fraternal Association of European Roma Law Enforcement Officers.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Developing internal minority rights expertise within such national institutions as the police and judiciary constitutes a positive practice, allowing such key protection and justice bodies to engage and consult more effectively with minority communities, ensure protection measures and respond appropriately to their issues, including incidents of violence. In the eleventh preambular paragraph of its resolution 66/144 of 22 March 2012, the General Assembly recognized that individuals belonging to vulnerable groups including minorities are the main victims of violence and of attacks perpetrated or incited by extremist political parties, movements and groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- Where minorities face violence, the presence of local independent human rights bodies can be a deterrent and important monitoring mechanism. The Office of the Ombudsman of Colombia has a Division for Ethnic Minorities and undertakes activities to protect minority Afro-Colombian leaders and communities at risk or violence from illegal armed forces. Local representatives (defensores comunitarios) work in sensitive minority areas where the presence of State authorities is weak. They have developed the trust of communities and operate an early warning and risk assessment system (Sistema de Alerta Temprana) under which credible threats are identified and alerts are assessed by security forces and civil institutions, often resulting in protection measures. The present Government has continued the policy of institutional attention to Afro-Colombian issues implemented by previous administrations in creating a Presidential Programme for Afro-Colombian Issues.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- The National Cohesion and Integration Commission of Kenya was created in 2008, following ethnically based election violence, to "facilitate and promote equality of opportunity, good relations, harmony and peaceful coexistence between persons of different ethnic and racial backgrounds". It advises the Government, and its activities address discrimination on ethnic grounds and seek to promote respect for religious, cultural and linguistic diversity. The Ethnic Relations Commission of Guyana was created following ethnic violence between Indian and Afro-Guyanese communities to monitor and improve ethnic relations and observe political activities. It held cross-country, multi-stakeholder forums prior to 2006 elections, recognizing that elections had become an ethnic and political flashpoint.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- National institutions with minority rights expertise can facilitate arbitration, dialogue, national debate and activities to prevent and find solutions to ethnic or religion-based tensions. Independent bodies are particularly important when a minority group considers the Government to be the cause of its grievances or to be unresponsive to them, or in situations where an independent intermediary is needed to overcome lack of trust between conflicting groups. Under her mandate, the Independent Expert has noted that sustainable peace is highly dependent on the participation of all population groups in peace negotiations and resulting State institutional arrangements.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Institutionalizing expertise in minority rights before tensions arise enhances the potential to identify problems early and implement effective prevention measures. Under her mandate, the Independent Expert has noted that among the essential elements of strategies to prevent conflicts involving minorities are: respect for minority rights; dialogue between minorities and majorities; and the constructive development of practices and institutional arrangements to accommodate diversity. In the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001 States were urged to recognize that techniques, mechanisms, policies and programmes for reconciling conflicts based on factors related to race, colour, descent, language, religion, or national or ethnic origin and for developing harmonious multiracial and multicultural societies needed to be systematically considered and developed.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- The prevention of mass atrocities, intergroup tensions and conflict, including when owing to violations of minority rights, is an important impetus for institutionalizing attention to minority issues, particularly where tensions or conflict exists or has previously occurred. The former Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, remarked that "[W]e must protect especially the rights of minorities, since they are genocide's most frequent targets". The General Assembly in the preamble to the Declaration considered "that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to … minorities contribute to the political and social stability of States in which they live". This statement was echoed by Heads of State and Government in paragraph 130 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome, where they also committed themselves to the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes and ethnic cleansing (paras. 138 and 139), the importance of which is emphasized by the Independent Expert in relation to minorities at risk.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- National and international actors responsible for developing policy and programmes to achieve the Millennium Development Goals should consider providing dedicated attention to the situation of minorities and projects targeted towards them. In the field of development, poverty alleviation and national strategies for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the mandate of the Independent Expert has highlighted the need for attention to minorities within national action plans and strategies to ensure that disadvantaged minorities are not left behind or fail to benefit from Millennium Development Goal strategies owing to discrimination, exclusion or neglect. A survey of Millennium Development Goal country reports and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers highlighted the low level of attention to minorities even in countries with large and impoverished minority communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Specialist bodies or dedicated departments are beneficial to meeting group-specific goals. In 2011, member States of the European Union (EU) adopted a Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies, recognizing it as a major step towards achieving a more socially cohesive Europe. Member States agreed to prepare, update or develop by the end of 2011, national Roma inclusion strategies, or integrated sets of policy measures within their broader social inclusion policies for improving the situation of Roma. They reaffirmed that national efforts should focus on priority areas of education, employment, health care and housing so as to close the gaps between Roma and the general population. States agreed to appoint a national contact point or use an already existing body to ensure effective monitoring of Roma inclusion strategies and measures and foster the exchange of good practices.
- 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
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- Institutional attention to minority issues can be key to achieving anti-racism objectives and in designing and implementing national strategies that ensure consultation with and participation of minorities from planning to evaluation. The 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance urged Governments to develop national action plans against racism and create "conditions for all to participate effectively in decision-making and realize civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights in all spheres of life on the basis of non-discrimination" (para. 99 of the Durban Programme of Action). Action plans provide motivation for activities across institutions and are an important engine for mobilizing attention to equality and minority rights. Their implementation is characterized by mainstreaming initiatives in which numerous bodies work together to achieve common goals. The challenges in planning and management across institutions require institutional leadership so as to ensure that all actors fulfil their responsibilities.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- Expert national institutions can assist Governments in fulfilling international commitments, including reporting to United Nations treaty bodies, such as the Human Rights Committee, on minority rights under article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. States receive minority-related recommendations based on their consideration by treaty bodies, the universal periodic review, special procedures mandate holders and regional monitoring bodies. Specialist institutions can lead efforts to implement recommendations nationally. They also provide a valuable focal point through which guidance, tools and technical cooperation initiatives relating to minority rights may be channelled to the national level. Independent national human rights institutions frequently provide critical analysis of government policy and practice and make recommendations based on their minority rights expertise, including to the United Nations system and regional 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
- 2012
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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Collaborations among civil society groups, ethnic or religious bodies or associations and national or local authorities can provide valuable venues and opportunities for dialogue and understanding between communities and among authorities and minorities. In Marseille, France, "Marseille Hope" is an example of a positive initiative designed to create dialogue and help avert the tensions between faith groups that, once having emerged, can lead to violence. Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Muslim leaders meet regularly with city authorities to share views and maintain positive relations among communities. Founded in 1989 in response to growing urban violence, it promotes inter-community understanding through activities, including interfaith symposiums.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- Institutional engagement with non-governmental organizations brings expertise on minority issues and expands the capacity of national bodies through appropriate programme collaborations. National institutions may benefit from the studies, reports and contacts of non-governmental organizations within minority communities and the access and trust that some non-governmental organizations have secured at the community level. Non-governmental organizations and minority associations provide guidance based on their expert knowledge of specific groups and thematic concerns and are essential partners in consultation processes and the delivery of policy and programme initiatives. Further, governmental institutions and national human rights bodies working on minority issues provide a valuable focus for non-governmental organization advocacy initiatives, enabling them to lobby, build relationships and collaborate with national actors wielding policy influence.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- Non-governmental organizations are often the most active advocates for minority rights and implement concrete and grass-roots programmes. They provide information, expertise and expert services to national institutions and provide an essential information and communication bridge between national authorities and minority communities. They also fulfil important functions, including provision of social support activities conducted within communities and by trained members of minorities. Academic institutions frequently have specialist knowledge of minority issues and conduct essential research which provides Governments that are seeking to strengthen institutional expertise and design appropriate policy and programme measures, with a valuable resource.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Statistics Canada conducts census and other statistical surveys and includes questions relating to origin, ethnicity, religion and language, thereby allowing comparative analysis of the socioeconomic situation of minorities compared with other population groups. Labour-market activity data revealed disproportionately high unemployment rates among black, Western Asian and Arab communities, for example. An Ethnic Diversity Survey provided insights into how ethnic backgrounds affect participation in social and economic life, a potential resource for programme development. Where Government bodies are not mandated or permitted to collect disaggregated data, independent human rights and equality bodies should play a key role in compiling such information and should develop their own internal expertise.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
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
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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Children and young people belonging to minority groups may face unique challenges and vulnerability owing to issues including poverty and discrimination. Institutions whose work centres on children's and youth issues and education should ensure that their mandates and working practices, projects and programme initiatives are relevant and accessible to minorities. Innovative projects can benefit individual children and may provide venues and opportunities for interaction among young people from different communities, particularly when intercultural and integration perspectives are given attention. Governments may consider supporting specialist civil society youth initiatives. Institutions established to support young people, protect them from possible abuse or exploitation, and provide them with information should also ensure that their services reach and are accessible to those from minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Youth
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- In 2011, the Forum on Minority Issues highlighted the need for dedicated attention to guaranteeing the rights of minority women and girls, who face unique challenges and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination in such areas as access to education and may be vulnerable to violations, including sexual violence or trafficking. Specialist units, focal points or consultative bodies within ministries or governmental institutions on women's issues can be a means of ensuring that their issues are adequately and appropriately addressed within institutional mandates. This may require specialist or minority staff sensitive to minority issues, and gender and cultural or religious sensitivities relating to women and girls. Along the same lines, the Forum has recommended that national human rights institutions consider specific mechanisms in their secretariats for addressing issues relevant to minority women and girls.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The Forum on Minority Issues at its second session focused on effective political participation. It recognized that it is frequently necessary to adopt positive institutional measures designed to enhance minority participation in decision-making bodies. It recommended parliamentary arrangements, proportional representation and other appropriate electoral systems-related measures that can increase opportunities for minorities to participate. Reserved or shared seats have proved useful in ensuring minority representation in elected bodies. Where minorities are geographically concentrated, forms of devolved power or territorial or political autonomy can facilitate minority participation in regional or local institutions. Political parties are key actors and should adopt measures aimed at engaging minority communities, addressing minority issues and ensuring minority representation. The Forum recommended a specific mechanism or institutional procedure to survey and monitor progress on minority participation.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- The value of permanent institutionalized participatory and intercultural dialogue mechanisms is emphasized by the Independent Expert. Such mechanisms not only benefit minority communities, but are also essential for eliminating exclusionary practices and changing discriminatory perceptions in respect of minorities, which may exist in wider society and may be institutionalized. Addressing "institutional racism" remains a challenge in many States and requires activities to promote participation and dialogue focused not only on minorities, but on all sectors of society. Coordinated institutional approaches should engage minority institutions and associations, majority communities, and civil society, as key stakeholders and project partners. Institutional measures serve to mainstream minority issues and promote diversity and equality across all areas of public life and institutions.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- The Independent Expert highlights the need for increased attention to the rights and security of religious minorities and interfaith dialogue, particularly in countries experiencing tensions and violent attacks against religious minorities. Anti-religious extremism and hate speech encourage discrimination and violence and increase the urgency for human rights mechanisms that address the issues of religious minorities. The Human Rights Council universal periodic review has produced nearly 400 recommendations concerning religious freedom and the rights of religious minorities. Establishing institutional mechanisms to promote interfaith dialogue helps build bridges between faith groups that may have become increasingly polarized and distrustful. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has stated that "it is becoming imperative for Governments to provide due political, social, economic and cultural space to minorities in their societies, including access to decision-making levels".
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Institutionalized expertise helps Governments to respond appropriately to challenges facing specific minority groups. In many countries, for example, linguistic minorities claim their rights, as established in the Declaration, to adequate opportunities for learning and receiving instruction in their mother tongue. Such rights require specialist knowledge of minority communities and their needs and pedagogic methodologies relevant to language education, including bilingual education models and their application. Institutional attention to the rights and needs of linguistic minorities must be a focus of both national policymaking bodies such as the ministry of education, and in municipal authorities responsible for implementing policy and programmes in practice. Specific minority needs may lead States to consider other policy and institutional options, including establishing and supporting minority schools.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Specialist bodies have a valuable educative role in developing and delivering teaching and training initiatives, which would include educating the general public through such activities as public debates, engagement with the media on minority issues and conducting campaigns and other awareness-raising initiatives. They may promote minority rights within the framework of human rights education initiatives through the development of curricula and provision of school teaching materials appropriate to diverse classrooms, reflecting ethnic and religious diversity, minority cultures and languages, and the histories and contributions of minorities. Dedicated bodies can provide training to staff of public bodies, including the police and judiciary, so as to enhance institutional awareness of minority rights and equality standards and promote the use of tools, resources and good practices relevant to minority rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Minority rights institutions frequently have proactive mandates that include: reviewing and proposing domestic standards and providing expertise and information to legislation drafting and policymaking processes; monitoring laws and policies with respect to minority rights and recommending amendments or implementation measures; encouraging and coordinating programming on minority issues and strategies devised to address problems relating to minorities; promotion and education activities; developing good practice guides, information resources and reports; developing campaigns and outreach relating to minority rights; and forming a bridge between minority communities and public administration. Importantly, they should not act in isolation on minority issues but, should rather, actively promote mainstreaming of minority issues and cooperation across all relevant bodies.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Institutions mandated to address minority issues can increase minority rights awareness among minority communities and the wider society. They are valuable central sources of information on legislation, policies and programmes and acts that foster discrimination. They can provide advisory services on specific concerns, such as education, employment and housing, and facilitate consultations and debates in which minorities participate. A national institutional framework facilitates legislative and policy development and the design, implementation and monitoring of minority-related programmes. Affirmative action measures that address long-standing discrimination and inequality are often necessary and require institutional attention to specific minority issues or groups. Institutions can conduct studies and social surveys and gather and analyse disaggregated data so as to justify, implement and monitor such measures.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- In States in which minority populations are significant, where inter-community relations are complex, where long-term challenges persist, or where ethnic or religious tensions or conflict exist or have previously occurred, institutional attention may be particularly appropriate. In the European context, for example, it is acknowledged that the Roma require dedicated national attention so as to promote their inclusion in all fields of life, address disproportionate poverty and improve living conditions and health indicators. Discrimination and exclusion are key factors contributing to their disadvantaged situation. Solutions must take account not only of their unique circumstances and target community challenges and the impact of discrimination against Roma, but also of the causes and manifestations of discrimination in the wider society.
- 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
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Ensuring enjoyment of minority rights and equality in practice requires an understanding and appreciation of minority issues and problems facing minorities. Institutionalizing expertise on minority issues allows Governments and independent bodies to identify problems and their causes and to develop sustainable solutions that fulfil the rights of minorities and comply with State obligations. While non discrimination measures are an essential tool, minority rights protection requires measures that go beyond non-discrimination. Dedicated institutional attention provides necessary impetus for proactive implementation of minority rights, including positive measures, consultative and participatory mechanisms and processes, and activities directed towards disadvantaged minorities, which are often lacking.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Institutional attention to minority issues may result in positive measures targeted at minorities. In its general recommendation No. 32 on the meaning and scope of special measures in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD/C/GC/32), the Committee, citing general recommendation No. XIV, states that "differentiation of treatment will not constitute discrimination if the criteria for such differentiation, judged against the objectives and purposes of the Convention, are legitimate". According to general recommendation No. 32: The term "non-discrimination" does not signify the necessity of uniform treatment when there are significant differences in situation between one person or group and another, or, in other words, if there is an objective and reasonable justification for differential treatment. To treat in an equal manner persons or groups whose situations are objectively different will constitute discrimination in effect, as will the unequal treatment of persons whose situations are objectively the same. However, positive measures should be justified, timed and monitored.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- In its general recommendation No. XXIX on article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention (descent), relating to groups including caste-affected communities (see A/57/18, chap. XI.F), the Committee requests States to "(E)stablish statutory mechanisms, through the strengthening of existing institutions or the creation of specialized institutions, to promote respect for the equal human rights of members of descent-based communities". In its general recommendation No. XXVII on discrimination against Roma (see A/55/18, annex V.C), the Committee recommends numerous positive measures including the review and amendment of legislation, adoption and implementation of national strategies and programmes, establishment of effective remedies, and measures to ensure consultation, dialogue and participation of Roma. Their scope implies coordinated, proactive attention to Roma populations by appropriate institutions.
- 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
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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Article 1 (1) of the Declaration requires that "States shall protect the existence and the national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and shall encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity". Article 1 (2) requires that "States shall adopt appropriate legislative and other measures to achieve those ends". Article 2 (3) requires that minorities have the right to participate effectively in decisions on the national and, where appropriate, regional level concerning the minority to which they belong or the regions in which they live. Article 4 (2) requires that "States shall take measures to create favourable conditions to enable persons belonging to minorities to express their characteristics and to develop their culture, language, religion, traditions and customs". Article 5 (1) establishes that "(N)ational policies and programmes shall be planned and implemented with due regard for the legitimate interests of persons belonging to minorities".
- 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
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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Different approaches to minority rights protection exist based on national circumstances and factors including historical, cultural and religious background and political systems. Some States provide territorial, political or cultural autonomy which facilitates minority participation in regional or local institutions and establish forms of local or minority self-government. Many States officially recognize minorities, adopt constitutional and legislative provisions, and acknowledge that special attention may be required to ensure the enjoyment of their rights in equality with others. Recognition of the existence of minorities remains a precondition for positive national measures and institutional arrangements for promoting minority rights effectively.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Factors including lack of recognition of minorities, discrimination, exclusion and lack of knowledge and awareness of minority issues result in inadequate inclusion of minority issues by national institutions, both governmental and independent, within their work and priorities. Human rights and socioeconomic development policies frequently do not fully take account of their unique circumstances, their rights and their needs and consequently fail to benefit minorities. However, in many States that recognize challenges involving minorities and the need for targeted and mainstream solutions, institutional arrangements have been established incorporating expertise on minority issues which initiate, implement and monitor efforts to promote and protect minority rights.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Disadvantaged minorities are often the poorest communities and face marginalization and discrimination in respect of their participation in economic life. They are underrepresented in political life and decision-making bodies and lack opportunities to raise their issues at all levels. Certain minority communities experience denial or deprivation of citizenship, with implications for enjoyment of their rights. They often experience poor educational access and outcomes and exclusion from labour markets. Disadvantaged minorities often live in the lowest-quality housing, and in remote or undeveloped regions, and their health statistics are poor relative to other population groups. They often face barriers to achieving access to justice and in some countries face the threat of violence and disproportionate impacts of conflict.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- 2012 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. In March 2012, the Secretary-General's Policy Committee stressed that the twentieth anniversary should be used to raise awareness and promote implementation of the Declaration and endorsed the establishment of the United Nations Network on Racial Discrimination and Minorities to give strengthened attention to minority issues within the United Nations system. In many countries, examples of constructive approaches, national legislation and institutional attention exist for the implementation of minority rights, equality and the accommodation of diverse groups within society which could be replicated. However, in all regions significant challenges remain for minority communities.
- 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
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2012
- Document code
- A/67/293
Document
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur regrets that there is a lack of official information on funding dedicated to measures to improve the situation of Roma communities outside Europe, indicating that they are unlikely to exist. The Special Rapporteur therefore calls on all Governments to dedicate sufficient funding to improving the situation of Roma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- Concerns have been raised about technical and substantial challenges facing Roma organizations in accessing European Union funding, including overly burdensome bureaucratic requirements, constantly changing rules and formalities and liquidity and cash flow issues. In addition, the level of expertise and the financial resources needed to implement European Union programmes are often too onerous for smaller grass-roots organizations. As a result, large funding sources are often absorbed by large non-Roma recipients and just a small percentage reaches Roma communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- Secondly, within the European Union, no monitoring mechanisms are in place to evaluate how much money is invested in projects that directly or indirectly benefit Roma people. The Special Rapporteur warns that without such accountability, there is the risk of contributing to the perception that in the European Union, too many economic resources are invested in Roma with few results, which in turn contributes to negative stereotypes about Roma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- The lack of recognition of the fate of the Roma under the Nazi regime is often referred to as the "forgotten Holocaust" and has been identified as a major obstacle to restoring dignity and respect for the human rights of Roma worldwide. Although 2 August is officially Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day, there is a need to continue to bring heightened public attention to ensuring that the Roma Holocaust becomes part of public consciousness.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that much can be achieved through recognition of the cultural contributions of Roma. Positive initiatives in this regard include the promotion and celebration of Romani culture through national history statements, inclusion in school curricula, national days of celebration and the creation of museums and exhibitions. Furthermore, historical narratives are central to the identity of Roma communities, and a better understanding by the majority society of the richness of Roma culture is an essential demand of Roma communities in every region. Nevertheless, the history and contributions of Roma culture are rarely adequately acknowledged or properly promoted. Rather, what remain pervasive are biased, distorted stereotypes of Roma that contribute to a sense of alienation and exclusion, especially among young people.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- The dispossession of and discrimination against Roma over centuries has led to a situation of intergenerational disadvantage that has often engrained hopelessness in Roma individuals and communities. Across the regions, however, the Special Rapporteur observes that insufficient effort has been made to foster long-term durable intercultural dialogue or to develop initiatives that build trust and foster relationships of mutual respect.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- In this vein, she insists that States must improve knowledge among Roma about their rights, including about discrimination, and their awareness of complaint mechanisms at both the national and international levels. States should also develop measures that enable Roma complainants to have easy access to such mechanisms. It is equally important that the recommendations of any such mechanisms be swiftly implemented in order to promote a sense of justice and faith in the processes concerned.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- While the Special Rapporteur acknowledges that article 13 of the Racial Equality Directive requires European Union member States to establish a body responsible for the promotion of equal treatment, she regrets that research indicates that knowledge about and use of those mechanisms by Roma is limited. Even at the international level, the Special Rapporteur receives few communications from Roma regarding their rights, and although there have been a number of high-profile Roma rights cases at the European Court of Human Rights, there have been relatively few such cases when considered in relation to the significant disadvantages Roma in Europe face. Outside Europe, she has not received any information about Roma accessing complaints mechanisms to address their concerns.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- In order to better address the discrimination Roma face, including anti-Gypsyism, there is a need for complaint mechanisms of which Roma are aware, to which they have access and in which they have confidence.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- Roma organizations at the local level are often institutionally weak and often have few human and technical resources. As a result, they may lack the capacity to advocate effectively on issues that are important to them or they may not be able to liaise effectively and cooperate with other Roma organizations. These factors affect organizations' ability to find consistent, meaningful opportunities for engaging in policy design, implementation and monitoring. Efforts must be made to strengthen Roma rights organizations, not only through better funding and support, but also through scholarships and education initiatives to ensure that Roma young people are equipped with the necessary skills to become active advocates for their own communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur observes that there are often underlying attitudes that contribute to the lack of focus on empowerment of Roma communities and organizations. They can be outright discriminatory attitudes, such as when decision-making authorities adopt the paternalistic attitude that they are better equipped to make decisions on behalf of Roma. However, there are also more subtle forms of bias, including the tendency to focus on Roma as passive victims of discrimination, which may have the effect of perpetuating erroneous assumptions about their inability to contribute to society. This in turn hampers the shift from a perception of Roma as primarily passive victims of discrimination to an acknowledgment of their role as active agents of transformation who can participate in policy decisions that affect them. The Special Rapporteur notes that effective, meaningful participation must be a transformative process that becomes an inclusive experience, facilitating Roma involvement, empowerment and active citizenship. Such a participatory approach must also guarantee that those whose voices are rarely heard are empowered, including Roma women and young people.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Another concern expressed is the insufficient engagement of Roma communities in the design, delivery and monitoring of programmes and policies affecting them. Even in Europe, where efforts have been made to include Roma better, a recent evaluation showed that Roma participation is often reduced to consultations, and meaningful and effective participation remains a "distant objective".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- Most stakeholders consulted agree that the crucial issue of the political participation of Roma has been neglected by most policymakers and institutions across the regions. Despite numerous new programmes and the unprecedented achievements of Roma intellectuals, professionals and activists around the world, Roma remain largely underrepresented or unrepresented in local and national bodies, and remain peripheral in regional and international decision-making bodies, including in institutions explicitly established to protect and promote their rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur further observes that many policies and programmes fail to adequately incorporate combating racism and anti-Gypsyism in their programming goals. The Special Rapporteur reiterates that there are too many policies based exclusively on improving Roma access to material or social benefits, including educational and/or vocational training. Such policies, she warns, treat symptoms only and do not address the root causes of disadvantage, which lie within deep-seated discriminatory attitudes that have become entrenched over generations. She therefore emphasizes the need to better incorporate anti-discrimination as an overarching element in all strategies and programmes affecting Roma, including through outreach to non-Roma groups on non-discrimination and equal treatment.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- There is also an unfortunate tendency to compartmentalize the so-called "Roma issue" into the category of poverty alleviation, and to view Roma issues through the exclusive lens of economic and social rights. This can lead States to focus solely on programmes that address questions of housing, health care, employment and education. While such projects are critical to overcoming key areas of Roma disadvantage, this narrow approach fails to incorporate an interconnected understanding of human rights and may also further entrench the perception of Roma as impoverished beneficiaries of social support rather than active rights holders. It also excludes other segments of Roma communities, including middle-class Roma who may want to focus on their rights to political and public participation or to culture.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- The marginalization experienced by Roma is often interconnected with disadvantage in the area of economic and social rights, often stemming from, or leading to, further impediments in civil and political rights and vice versa. However, the Special Rapporteur has observed a tendency of Roma programmes to focus on short-term, issue-specific projects that fail to adopt an integrated approach that addresses multisectoral disadvantage. Many measures and instruments focus exclusively on one policy area and are delivered through uncoordinated projects with insufficient connection to other, interconnected policies and funds. For example, housing programmes that tackle issues of adequacy, including ghettoization and segregation, that are not linked to employment opportunities will have little prospect for long-term sustainability. Comprehensive solutions should take account of intersecting discrimination that Roma face and ensure that programmes are developed in genuine consultation with affected communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- In the fight against anti-Gypsyism and discrimination, political will must be actively encouraged. While much has already been achieved at the international and regional levels, there is a gap at the national and local levels, which remain crucial for achieving meaningful change for communities. Unfortunately, action taken to address Roma disadvantage often still depends heavily on the personal commitment of the particular political leader in power. Such an approach does not institutionalize anti-discrimination as a political goal, but rather reduces it to a subjective choice dependent on the goodwill of individual political actors. Moreover, as Roma are a disenfranchised minority group, they will often have little political influence or negotiating power at the local level. If leaders commit to combating discrimination against Roma as a national priority, that will be one important way to provide local politicians with a political constituency to focus on Roma rights.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- Despite international standards prohibiting discrimination, stakeholders across the regions pointed to the absence of political will as a key factor explaining the insufficient implementation of those standards in the Roma context.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur further notes that the lack of accurate data on Roma populations has important consequences and directly impacts the ability to develop policies and programmes that comprehensively address the issues faced by Roma groups. Disaggregated data allows inequalities to be revealed objectively and demonstrated statistically, and provides clear markers by which progress towards targets can be monitored and evaluated. The lack of accurate data in turn contributes to a lack of evidence-based programmes building on clear indicators. Indeed, a recent European Union report acknowledged the impact of the lack of disaggregated data for Roma programming.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Those discrepancies call into question how well States have developed procedures that allow the expression of Roma ethnicity in a way that best reflects personal identities and embraces the principle of self-identification. The Special Rapporteur therefore notes that it is essential that all States make an effort to provide meaningful and respectful ways to encourage Roma communities to self-identify in order to generate more accurate data on Roma communities worldwide.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- Worldwide, comprehensive data on the situation of Roma communities has never been collected. Even in Europe, where more robust efforts are made than elsewhere, research indicates that Roma populations remain undercounted. For example, discrepancies between official statistics and unofficial estimates of Roma populations across 12 countries in Europe range from 45 to 99 per cent.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur thus believes it is necessary to reflect on the lessons learned, both globally and in particular from the European experience, to understand better why existing approaches have not managed to bring about structural change. Although she recognizes that every Roma community is unique, and there is no blanket approach that will accommodate every community, she believes that drawing some general lessons from real examples may be helpful for all regions looking forward.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Despite a number of good initiatives that seek to address Roma disadvantage, Roma communities worldwide still face situations of extreme poverty and marginalization across a wide range of human rights indicators. In Europe, Roma still experience heightened levels of disadvantage and marginalization. Outside Europe, the Special Rapporteur regrets that very little has been done to acknowledge the disadvantage experienced by Roma and few policies have been developed to address those concerns.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- In Bulgaria, under the "Thank you, Mayor!" campaign, a grass-roots organization invested in capacity-building initiatives for local Roma advocacy groups. The campaign mobilized local activists and stakeholders, empowering them to develop and implement, in partnership with local administrations, successful Roma inclusion strategies in 12 municipalities. The project demonstrates how inclusive dialogue between Roma communities and local municipalities and a bottom-up approach can produce concrete commitments from local administrations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- The Government of Colombia consulted with Roma communities in the context of drafting national development plans for the period 2014 to 2018 and committed to implementing strategies to increase Roma visibility, improve their quality of life and provide for improved access to their social, economic and cultural and political rights. In Argentina, a local Roma NGO has been successful in initiating dialogues between civil society and the State, which has proved to be key in promoting the visibility of Roma culture.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- Portugal has established the Project for Municipal Roma Mediators, providing intercultural training to 15 Roma mediators which led to their inclusion in 18 local municipalities. The objective was to provide Roma inclusion-related services, guaranteeing the establishment of close links between local services, organizations and local Roma communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- The European Union has recognized that participation of Roma individuals and communities cannot be reduced to occasional discussions, but must promote the empowerment and active involvement of Roma, including through supporting Roma NGOs to be effective. The 2015 European Platform for Roma Inclusion provided an opportunity for participatory, interactive, operational-level discussions among all stakeholders, including Roma individuals and grassroots organizations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- In Colombia, Decree 2957 of 2010 was adopted to set up a legal framework for the protection of the rights of Roma in Colombia, recognizing collective rights for Roma people. The same year, the National Commission for Dialogue for Roma People (Comisión Nacional de Diálogo para el Pueblo Rom) was created to coordinate action between governments and local communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- The Finnish Ombudsman conducted a research study to identify the key issues facing Roma communities in Finland. The survey was a response to the identified lack of data on discrimination experienced by Roma. Better data is expected to enable national authorities to intervene more effectively in cases of discrimination experienced by Roma, to help them formulate concrete proposals for action to reduce the discrimination Roma face in various aspects of life, and to improve the position of Roma within society.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- In order to address the underreporting by Roma of incidents of discrimination, the Portuguese equality body has developed an informal complaints procedure whereby complaints can be submitted on a website or sent by e-mail to any of the equality body council members or through Roma organizations. That method has proved an effective way of overcoming mistrust and has seen an increase in reports of discrimination filed by Roma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The National Institute to Combat Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (Instituto Nacional contra la Discriminación, la Xenofobia y el Racismo - INADI) of the Government of Argentina coordinates the "Discrimination Map" project in collaboration with several universities. In 2013, the situation of the Roma was specifically addressed and Roma were found to be among the most discriminated groups in Argentina. One priority of INADI is establishing a dialogue with the Roma community in order to better understand their needs and challenges. INADI also sponsored a book on Roma history, legends and traditions and the documentary film "Roma - Gelem, Gelem" in 2015 with the goal of introducing a shift at the cultural level to combat racism against Roma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- In Spain, the ACCEDER programme has adopted a multidimensional approach to tackling discrimination against Roma by directly training Roma to increase their employability and by involving other actors essential to eliminating barriers for Roma to access the labour market, including the private sector, policymakers and society at large.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Although just a few decades ago Roma issues were almost absent from international discussions, the issue of discrimination against Roma, including anti-Gypsyism, has gained increasing visibility. The European Union has developed a Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies, and now holds an annual meeting of the European Platform for Roma. Its 2013 recommendation on effective Roma integration measures broke new ground, as the first European Union instrument targeted at combating discrimination and prejudice against Roma, including multiple forms of discrimination. In addition, there is an explicit commitment by the European Union to assist Turkey and the Western Balkans in developing and implementing long-term, sustainable programmes to address the situation of Roma, which is also an aspect of accession negotiations. Within the Council of Europe, a Special Representative for Roma Issues has been appointed.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- In Brazil, 24 May was declared National Roma Day by Presidential Decree in 2006 and has been acknowledged by Roma communities as an important public recognition of the existence of the Brazilian Roma community.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The University of Texas is home to the first university Romani Studies programme, and has become the leading institution in the United States of America for studies on Romani history, language and culture. The programme provides scholarships to Roma for educational qualifications at any level and houses the Romani Archives and Documentation Center, the largest collection of Romani materials in the world.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Since 1991, the Museum of Romani Culture in Brno, the Czech Republic, has been dedicated to the history and culture of Roma. The aim is to educate the younger generation, to promote better appreciation and understanding of the roots of Roma identity and to fight xenophobia and racism.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- The Council of Europe has launched an awareness-raising campaign entitled "Dosta!", which emphasizes the value of Roma for societies through an interactive website, on television, in school projects and training for the media and teachers. It also awards a prize to local authorities that have taken steps to uphold and protect the rights of Roma. The Government of Latvia informed the Special Rapporteur that, in order to implement the "Dosta!" campaign, its Ministry of Culture, together with the Latvian Centre for Human Rights, would organize an event entitled "Latvian Roma - between past and future" in April 2015 in Riga, aimed at eliminating negative stereotypes about Roma and promoting intercultural dialogue.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- Tallinn University in Estonia is conducting a study on stereotypes of various nationalities in Estonian online media with the objective of mapping and analysing stereotypes of individual nationalities. Additionally, the exhibition "We, the Roma", which reviews Estonian Roma history, culture and everyday life, opened in October 2013 and has since toured the country and abroad. It was shown at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki and will open in Budapest in 2015.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- In Hungary, the documentary film series "Mundi Romani - The World through Roma Eyes" is a co-production of the Romedia Foundation. Each episode presents a different aspect of Roma culture in locations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. The series provides insights into Roma culture and was nominated for and received a number of local and international prizes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- In Canada, in order to reduce discriminatory policing behaviours, in 2011-2012, training on Roma culture was delivered, as part of the Hate Can Kill project, to Ontario police, including information about the Roma Holocaust, the racially motivated violence experienced by Roma and the lack of trust in police authorities among Roma communities. In parallel, Roma families and young people were also educated on what constitutes a hate crime, on relevant legal instruments and on the importance of reporting hate crimes to the police. Following that training, in 2012 both the Toronto Police Force and the Hamilton Police Force recorded hate crimes reported by people of Roma identity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- The European Commission programme, Strategies for Effective Police Stop and Search project was designed to improve police-minority relations through more accountable use of policing power. It has been implemented with police and Roma in Bulgaria, Hungary and Spain and has proven effective in improving police relations with Roma, producing more efficient policing activities and increased legitimacy and trust.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- In 2014, ternYpe, the International Roma Youth Network, and its partners organized a conference and youth event gathering 1,000 people from 25 countries to raise awareness among young Europeans, civil society and decision makers about the Roma Holocaust, as well as about anti-Gypsyism in the context of racism, hate speech and extremism in Europe.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Although not all European States officially recognize 2 August as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the Special Rapporteur is pleased that the European Parliament has recently adopted a resolution on recognition of the memorial day of the Roma genocide during the Second World War and that that many States are moving in that direction. In order to better recognize the victims of the Roma genocide and to improve understanding of the situation of the Roma in Sweden, in 2014 the Government published a white paper highlighting abuses and rights violations of Roma throughout the twentieth century and showing the negative stereotyping and discrimination they continue to face.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur notes that, due to the scant or total lack of information received from countries outside Europe, it was difficult for her to provide a balanced assessment of initiatives regarding Roma programmes across the regions. Nevertheless, she attempts to highlight some key examples using the pillar framework.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Exclusion from public and political life must therefore be seen as both a cause and a consequence of the lack of enjoyment of economic and social rights, including lack of education opportunities, poverty, substandard living conditions and language barriers. The Special Rapporteur also underlines how the widespread fragility of Roma individuals' legal status impedes political participation. For example, in the Middle East, some Dom individuals are reportedly unable to pay hospital fees when their children are born, so no birth certificate is issued and the possibility of securing citizenship is denied.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- Roma may be intentionally or de facto restricted from participation. Barriers include the lack of political will to dismantle structural discrimination, including the persistence of negative stereotypes assuming that Roma have no interest and no skills for engaging in politics.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Despite those clearly defined international standards, Roma remain underrepresented or not represented in the public administrations, institutions and political parties of many States within Europe. The Special Rapporteur has found that no comparable studies or research have been conducted in other regions, nor did she receive relevant information from non-European States. Without information to the contrary, and given their marginalized status, she can only infer that Roma outside Europe experience comparable, if not heightened, political exclusion.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- The effective and meaningful participation of Roma in the political arena is a pivotal element in breaking the vicious cycle of stigma, discrimination and marginalization. The right to effective participation is affirmed in article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and reiterated in the Declaration (arts. 2, 4 (5) and 5 (1)). The commentary to the Declaration further establishes that the right to participate in all aspects of the life of the larger national society is essential, both in order for persons belonging to minorities to promote their interests and values and to create an integrated but pluralist society based on tolerance and dialogue (E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/2, para. 35).
- 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
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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- Internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Roma origin experience specific challenges in accessing basic rights, including housing, land and property, water and sanitation, health services, employment, education and participation in public and political life. During the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Roma IDPs have been increasingly marginalized and have limited access to even the most basic services. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons reported in 2014 that Roma in the Balkans were among the region's most vulnerable IDPs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Roma women and girls may also be vulnerable to multiple, intersecting forms of discrimination and to violence, including gender-based violence and trafficking. Roma women are also allegedly stereotyped as promiscuous, which exposes them to a heightened risk of exploitation and sexual and gender-based violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also draws attention to particular groups of Roma who may be victims of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. While many Roma migrate for the full range of reasons that all persons chose to migrate, including to seek new opportunities, the poverty Roma experience in their countries of origin, as well as racism, discrimination and marginalization, are often important push factors. Moreover, once in a destination country, Roma migrants often experience discrimination on multiple grounds, including as Roma and as migrant non-citizens. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur expresses concern about the targeted expulsions of Roma migrants, sometimes undertaken without their free, full and informed consent, including to countries where they are likely to face discrimination. In 2010, about 8,000 Roma were reportedly expelled from France, and cases of the expulsion of Roma from Denmark, Germany, Italy and Sweden were also reported at that time.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur regrets the lack of comprehensive health indicators and the scarce evidence, including information on reproductive, maternal and child health, for assessing the health situation of Roma outside Europe. Poverty, lack of identification documents and lack of transportation from remote areas to health-care facilities all impact on Roma health, which can be compounded by poor living conditions, such as living in proximity to garbage dumps or polluted rivers. Factors precluding Roma access to health care across the regions include Roma patients being refused medical treatment, having no access to emergency services, being subject to verbal abuse, or being segregated in hospital facilities. Furthermore, lack of access to health care may result from indirect discriminatory practices when Roma have to provide identity or residency documents in order to register and qualify for health-care benefits.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Roma face significant discrimination at all stages of access to labour markets, and the rate of unemployment among Roma is often high. When they do have access to labour markets, they are often offered short-term or low-skilled employment and are subject to prejudice. In Azerbaijan, for 90 per cent of Roma families living in the Nasiminskiy and Suraxani districts of Baku and from the Yevlakh region, begging is their main livelihood. In Belarus, only 9 per cent of Roma are employed. Central Asian Roma are reported to survive in conditions of poverty and deprivation, forced into begging and a semi-nomadic lifestyle. In 2004, the unemployment rate among the more than 3,500 Mugat Roma living in the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan was 90 per cent. In Lebanon, Dom communities often work in the informal sector or are engaged in unskilled labour, and monthly family income levels among the Dom are extremely low.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Access to education continues to be a major obstacle for all Roma. The Government of Argentina has recognized the high levels of illiteracy and school dropout of Roma children. In Brazil, official data on literacy and/or school attendance of Roma children are lacking, but civil society organizations reported that very few Roma children living in camps have ever been to school, and estimate that 90 per cent of the Roma living in camps in Curitiba city are illiterate. Prejudice has also been identified as an obstacle for accessing public schools in Brazil, where Roma children are reportedly not given the chance to enrol on the pretext of a lack of space. A representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has emphasized that teachers' biased attitudes towards Lyuli children in Central Asia may result in violence at school. The illiteracy rate among Iraqi Roma is very high and many Roma children there are forced to take on irregular jobs or resort to begging. In Lebanon, 68 per cent of school-aged children reportedly do not attend school because of significant obstacles such as discrimination, legal and economic barriers, leading to street labour becoming a significant trend among Dom children.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- Outside Europe, research indicates that Roma face similar challenges. Living conditions in the Roma villages in central and southern Iraq are reportedly among the most deplorable in the country. Many Roma live in windowless mud houses without electricity, clean water, health care or adequate food, and are cut off from social security services. In Brazil, many Roma settlements reportedly have no electricity and lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, despite the fact that some families have been living there for over 20 years.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- The substandard living conditions of Roma in Europe are well-documented. Between 70 and 90 per cent of Roma report living in conditions of severe material deprivation. Exclusion from formal schooling remains widespread throughout Europe. Even in those countries where a majority of Roma children complete primary school, most do not obtain either a vocational certificate or a secondary qualification. In South-Eastern Europe, the participation of Roma in education beyond primary school is dramatically lower than that of the majority population, with only 18 per cent of Roma attending secondary school compared to 75 per cent of the majority community, and less than 1 per cent of Roma enrolled in university. Regarding health, European Roma are disproportionately unvaccinated, have poorer than average nutrition and experience higher rates of infant mortality and tuberculosis. Life expectancy among European Roma communities is reportedly significantly lower than among non-Roma communities. Similar marginalization exists with regard to employment. In 12 surveyed European Union countries, fewer than one out of three Roma were reported to be in paid employment. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the commitment of the European Commission to start infringement proceedings in cases in which European Union member States are not meeting their commitments under the Racial Equality Directive, and emphasizes that the Commission should more actively pursue that in order to secure better outcomes for European Union Roma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is also concerned about discriminatory stereotypes and hate speech against Roma women, including depictions of them as particularly fertile or promiscuous, which expose them to different forms of gender-based violence, including forced sterilization. To avoid exposing Roma women to abuse, sterilization procedures must be based on clear legal provisions which ensure full, free and informed consent.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Beyond misrepresentation in the media, there are also State-sanctioned communications vilifying Roma. In August 2011, a Russian newspaper published an article called "Be careful!", signed by an employee of the Ministry of the Interior, advising readers to be extremely vigilant when dealing with Roma, not to enter into contact with them in order to avoid psychological pressure on their part and never to invite them home. The article also recommended that readers should immediately contact the police if they spotted a suspicious Gypsy. In 2013, the Governor's Office in Bursa, Turkey, issued an official report on the situation of Roma in the city, using denigrating language and likening Roma to criminals.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- In the context of her global study, she also wishes to draw attention to incidents of negative stereotyping of Roma outside Europe. For example, in Argentina, a now discontinued television series, Soy Gitano, focused on so-called "Gypsy crime". Although the Roma community in Argentina denounced the soap opera to the National Institute to Combat Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, the complaint was dismissed on the grounds that the series was fictional. A similar complaint was filed before the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council following a show which contained strong discriminatory statements towards Roma refugees in Canada. As a result of the complaint, the network removed the video from their web page and issued an apology. The misrepresentation of Roma in the media in Turkey was exemplified by a popular television series, Cennet Mahallesi, which presented highly stereotypical depictions of Roma. In the United States of America, a reality television programme entitled My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding, a spin-off of a show of the same name in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, continues to be broadcast today. Both versions have been criticized for their stereotypical approach and for misrepresenting Roma culture.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Nevertheless, across the regions, negative stereotypes of Roma persist, describing them as criminal, unworthy, unclean or aggressive. The Special Rapporteur has explained how hate speech, including negative stereotyping of Roma, is widespread in the media, including social media, and in public political discourse, and how Roma rarely have access to media or other means necessary to challenge those perceptions. Hate speech is not only a denigration of Roma identity, but impacts negatively on Roma community members' sense of inclusion in the national psyche. The Special Rapporteur therefore understands a key aspect of pillar 2 to include addressing hate speech through systematic intervention and condemnation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- The protection and promotion of Roma identity means that States have the obligation not only to protect Roma from forced assimilation, but must adopt positive measures that promote the distinctive characteristics of Roma culture, including language, history and tradition. That should be achieved through financial and technical assistance to preserve the Romani language, art, poetry, dance, music and traditions, including their promotion through the media. Roma history and the cultural contribution of Roma must also be recognized and taught in school curricula. In that regard, Roma must be given opportunities for self-interpretation and self-representation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also remains concerned by the failure of public authorities to protect Roma from violent attacks. That includes the lack of systematic intervention and condemnation by public figures when political and public discourse perpetuates racist and extreme views about Roma, and the failure of law enforcement authorities to protect Roma from the perpetrators of crimes against them. For example, a violent police crackdown on a Roma community in Slovakia in 2013 was condemned by a number of special procedures mandate holders, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the country's Ombudswoman. Nevertheless, the Minister of the Interior of Slovakia publically labelled the Roma victims of that intervention as criminals, and investigation into the police misconduct has been slow, with no charges brought against the police to date. Such failures by authorities to protect Roma adequately and to distance themselves from all manifestations of anti-Gypsyism not only promote a climate of distrust, dissuading Roma from reporting violent crimes against them to authorities, but also create an atmosphere of impunity and may encourage further acts of violence against Roma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- Roma are also vulnerable to violence by State actors, which can be both explicit and implicit. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about police harassment, intimidation and abuse. Empirical studies indicate that Roma are overrepresented in the criminal justice systems across Europe, with research indicating that they are often detained arbitrarily on account of their Roma identity. The lack of a visible Roma presence in police forces and judiciaries compounds that problem.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- In 2014, Amnesty International reported that harassment and intimidation of Roma individuals and communities in Europe continued to be widespread. One of the most tragic manifestations of hatred against Roma was the serial murder of six randomly selected Roma people, including a five-year-old boy, in Hungary in 2008 and 2009. Roma are reportedly at higher risk of being subjected to violence in other regions too. In Iraq, the Dom are allegedly targeted, their villages reduced to rubble and the residents slaughtered by militants opposed to their religious and cultural traditions. Roma women in Iraq are also reported to be severely exposed to sexual violence and a heightened risk of exploitation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur remains concerned that globally there is little awareness that Roma were targeted by the Nazi regime and were subjected to arbitrary internment, forced labour and mass murder. Together with the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, she has called for stronger measures to keep the memory of the Roma Holocaust - referred to as Porrajmos or Pharrajimos in the Romani language - alive, and to enable survivors and others to mark it in a recognized, dignified manner. The Special Rapporteur also notes that violence against Roma is not only an historical circumstance but remains a current reality for many Roma communities. Therefore, Governments must remain vigilant and take appropriate measures against signs of hatred and stigmatization.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The present report should be seen as complementary to the work undertaken by many other United Nations mechanisms. That includes the previous work carried out under the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, in the form of thematic reports, country reports, communications and press releases. It also includes the work of other special procedures mandate holders, including the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, who has reported on the causes and consequences of racism against Roma (see, for example, A/HRC/17/40, paras. 5-25, and A/HRC/26/50) and regularly addresses challenges facing Roma in country reports (see, for example, A/HRC/23/56/Add.2, A/HRC/20/33/Add.1, and A/HRC/7/19/Add.2), the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, who made important recommendations regarding Roma in her report on stigma (A/HRC/21/42) and in relevant country reports (see, for example, A/HRC/18/33/Add.2) and the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context (see, for example A/HRC/16/42/Add.2, paras. 51-56, and A/HRC/25/54/Add.2, paras. 69-71 and 74-75), among others. She also notes the role the United Nations treaty bodies have played in highlighting discrimination against Roma, particularly the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in its general comment No. 27 (2000) on discrimination against Roma. Roma have also featured prominently in the universal periodic review of States before the Human Rights Council. The Special Rapporteur refers to her recently published review of minority issues in the first cycle of the universal periodic review, which highlighted that over 25 per cent of all minority rights recommendations in the review referred to the situation of Roma. Despite that important work, the Special Rapporteur nevertheless believes that the full capacity of the United Nation is not yet being used by Roma rights advocates. The United Nations should be seen as a core Roma rights partner whose work can complement other mechanisms. She hopes that the present report will contribute to such an approach.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur welcomes the present report as an opportunity for her to address the situation of Roma globally through a minority rights lens, using the four pillars of minority rights: (a) the protection of a minority's existence, including combating violence against them and preventing genocide; (b) the protection and promotion of the 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 the ending of structural or systemic discrimination and the promotion of affirmative action when required; and (d) the right to effective participation in public life and decisions that affect them.
- 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
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Many Roma in North America also face stigma and prejudice that originated in and are perpetuated by limited knowledge of Romani culture or history, or of the persecution Roma faced during and after the Nazi regime.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- In its concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of the Russian Federation, the Committee against Torture noted its concern about persistent reports of discrimination, violent attacks and abuses against Roma on the basis of their identity (CAT/C/RUS/CO/5, para. 15). United Nations human rights monitoring mechanisms have repeatedly noted the marginalization of Roma in Belarus. In its concluding observations, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has noted that Roma suffer from widespread social stigma and discrimination Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (CERD/C/TJK/CO/6-8, para. 13; CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 11).
- 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
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- The Dom of the Middle East are among the most marginalized people in the Arab world and suffer from widespread negative perceptions and stigma. The Dom are often labelled as nawar, an Arabic insult that evokes selfishness, stinginess, dirtiness and chaos.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Although anti-Gypsyism is originally a European term, the discrimination it embodies manifests itself in a variety of ways across regions. In Latin America, discrimination against Roma was imported with European migration, and negative stereotypes remain present today, with reports that many Roma do not speak Romani in public for fear of discrimination or reprisal. In their concluding observations, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination have noted their concerns about the widespread occurrence of offences of discrimination against Roma in Brazil, including racist crimes, and the lack of application of relevant domestic legal provisions in cases involving Romani victims (CCPR/C/BRA/CO/2, para. 20; CERD/C/64/CO/2, para. 17).
- 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
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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The Dom is an ethnic minority in the Middle East that shares similarities with Roma; its presence in the region dates back to the eleventh century. There is scant official information on the number of Roma in that region. Unofficial estimates indicate there may be significant populations in Egypt, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Syrian Arab Republic.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Roma groups are also present in Central Asian countries, where they are known collectively as Lyuli. While those groups are distinct from American and European Roma, they share the experience of exclusion and marginalization from local majority populations. Due to a lack of up-to-date data, there are no precise figures on the number of Roma in Central Asia.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- It is generally accepted that approximately 1 million Roma live in North America today; however that data is incomplete, as the census in the United States of America does not include Roma as a category. Furthermore, although the Canadian census includes "Other European Origins" - "Roma (Gypsy)", there is a discrepancy between official census data, which in 2011 indicated a Roma population of 5,255, and unofficial estimates which indicate a Roma population of upwards of 110,000.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Roma groups in Latin America have been arriving from Europe since the beginning of European colonization there, as well as during ongoing migration processes. Despite the lack of official census data, a 1991 study by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization estimated the Roma population in the region to be approximately 1,500,000. Recent government data indicates a population of over half a million Roma in Brazil.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- In Turkey, data indicates that the Roma population ranges from 500,000 to 5 million. In Ukraine, 47,600 persons identified themselves as Roma, according to 2001 census data, yet the Council of Europe estimates there are between 120,000 and 400,000 Ukrainian Roma. In Belarus, the 2009 census indicated a population of 7,316 Roma, but the Government recognizes that that number does not necessarily reflect the true figure, which ranges between 50,000 and 60,000. The 2010 census in the Russian Federation estimated that there was a population of 205,007 Russian Roma, although Council of Europe data suggest a larger population of between 450,000 and 1.2 million.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- European Roma, as the largest ethnic minority in the region, is the most visible Roma population worldwide; the severe discrimination and marginalization its members continue to experience has been widely reported. However, little comprehensive research has been carried out on the situation of Roma outside Europe. The Special Rapporteur on minority issues has therefore taken the opportunity to report on the severe socioeconomic marginalization that Roma experience worldwide.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- The largest and most visible Roma minority is European Roma, whose presence in Europe dates back to the fourteenth century. Today, there are approximately 11 million European Roma, with 6 million estimated to be residing within the 27 European Union member States.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Although theories as to why the ancestors of today's Roma emigrated from India a millennium ago are beyond the scope of the present report, it is important to note that Roma have dispersed worldwide. There are, however, no official or reliable statistics on the global Roma population.
- 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
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- According to the principles of international law, including article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (the Declaration), and general comment No. 23 (1994) of the Human Rights Committee, minority identity does not depend on recognition by a State, but rather on individual self-identification. The Special Rapporteur, therefore, uses the term Roma to include all groups that self-identify as such, and also includes those who self-identify as Sinti, Kale, Travellers or Gypsies.
- 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
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- The term "Roma" refers to heterogeneous groups, the members of which live in various countries under different social, economic, cultural and other conditions. The term Roma thus does not denote a specific group but rather refers to the multifaceted Roma universe, which is comprised of groups and subgroups that overlap but are united by common historical roots, linguistic communalities and a shared experience of discrimination in relation to majority groups. "Roma" is therefore a multidimensional term that corresponds to the multiple and fluid nature of Roma identity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2015
- Document code
- A/HRC/29/24
Document
Study on the concept of a minority
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2019
- Document code
- A/74/160
Document
Statelessness a minority issue
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2018
- Document code
- A/73/205
Document
Significance and scope of the four categories of minorities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2020
- Document code
- A/75/211
Document
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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