Search Tips
sorted by
30 shown of 336 entities
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Economic exclusion is a cause, a manifestation and a consequence of discrimination against persons belonging to minorities. Many minorities have historically been excluded from full and effective participation in economic life, both in the developed and in the developing world. Minorities are often discriminated against when they seek employment, for example, on the basis of their colour, their religion, their language, their names, or even their addresses. Minorities are often poorly represented even in public sector employment and despite legislation that bans discrimination in both public and private sectors. They may face barriers in accessing credit or loans to begin small businesses and may live in the poorest regions or remote areas that offer limited prospects for their economic development. Equally, large-scale economic development projects or commercial activities carried out on the lands and territories where minorities live without their prior consultation has had negative impacts, including displacement, the perpetuation of poverty and, in some cases, violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- In its work in the field the United Nations has developed some excellent practice with regard to minority issues. However, there is no mechanism for or consistent practice of ensuring that minority issues are mainstreamed across the in-country work of entities in the United Nations system, in accordance with article 9 of the Declaration, even in countries where those issues are at the core of local conflicts. At the Headquarters level, in the Department of Political Affairs and in the UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, know-how on minority rights could be enhanced to facilitate the development of policies and practices sensitive to minorities. Appropriate training programmes and resources are required for staff throughout the United Nations system, to assist in the early identification by decision makers at the highest level of tensions involving minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Minorities and effective political participation: a survey of law and national practices 2010, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- In its resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007, the Human Rights Council established a Forum on Minority Issues ("the Forum"), inter alia to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as well as thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the independent expert on minority issues. The independent expert is required to guide the work of the Forum and prepare its annual meetings. The inaugural session took place on 15 and 16 December 2008 in Geneva with a thematic focus on "Minorities and the Right to Education".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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
Priorities for the work of the Independent Expert and the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 2012, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Based on the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the independent expert has identified a number of thematic priorities that will feature in her work during her first term as mandate holder. These priorities also reflect some of the priorities that have been brought to her attention, and have been raised with her predecessor, by minorities themselves. The independent expert wishes to emphasize that, to the fullest extent possible and in line with the provisions of her mandate, her work will take into account the views of minorities and NGOs as well as other stakeholders and that she will take every opportunity to respond to the concerns of minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- While it is legitimate to promote a common State language, certain factors should be taken into account to ensure that such promotion does not become discriminatory in practice. The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities has emphasized that an appropriate balance is required between strengthening the State language on the one hand, and protecting the linguistic rights of persons belonging to national minorities on the other. In some situations historical grievances relating to language use, including the previous imposition of non-native languages, have been reported; however, such issues do not constitute legitimate grounds for restrictions to be imposed on the use of any language in public or private or failure to fully implement minority rights relating to language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- In its commentary on the Declaration (see E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/2), the Working Group on Minorities stated that the protection of the existence of minorities included their physical existence, their continued existence on the territories on which they lived and their continued access to the material resources required to continue their existence on those territories, and that they should neither be physically excluded from the territory nor excluded from access to the resources required for their livelihood. The Working Group considered that the right to existence in its physical sense was sustained by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and that forced population transfers intended to move persons belonging to minorities away from the territory on which they lived, or with that effect, would constitute serious breaches of contemporary international standards, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- The establishment of domestic legal protection for minority rights is an essential first step; however, legislative measures alone are not sufficient to protect minorities from violence. Ensuring institutional attention to minority issues constitutes an essential measure to prevent violence, particularly in countries in which historical tensions and violence may have been evident. Dedicated institutional attention increases the Government's capacity to protect minorities in practice and to respond to situations that arise. It promotes engagement with minorities and enables threats to be identified and responded to at an early stage.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities 2014, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Numerous positive practices can help to ensure that law enforcement bodies and officers act appropriately to protect minority communities, without prejudice. These include: initiatives to recruit and maintain personnel from minorities in law enforcement bodies, including at senior levels (e.g. the National Black Police Association in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Fraternal Association of European Roma Law Enforcement Officers, established in Budapest); deployment of ethnically and religiously mixed battalions to areas of intercommunal tension; training of law enforcement personnel in human and minority rights with specific attention to understanding communities and territories to which they are deployed; introduction of community or proximity policing, in which law enforcement actors develop strong local relations with and knowledge of local conditions and at-risk communities; and establishment of independent oversight bodies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Judges should be aware of the diversity of society, and should act to counter any prejudice against minorities on the part of the persons under their direction or of lawyers appearing before them. Numerous jurisdictions have published guidance, endorsed by chief justices and judicial councils and developed through inclusive processes, to inform and sensitize the judiciary to the situation of minorities in order to prevent discrimination, whether explicit or implicit. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights recently condemned the use of ethnic stereotypes and social prejudices in judges' reasoning.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Minorities in the criminal justice system 2015, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- Minority victims may be reluctant to report the crime to police, owing to a history of negative experiences with the authorities, lack of faith in the justice system, or lack of knowledge of their rights or lack of practical information such as on where and how to make a complaint. They may fear that bringing themselves to the attention of the authorities will generate more suspicion and result in persecution of themselves, their family or their community. They may have a fear of reprisals from the perpetrators of the crime owing to a lack of confidence that authorities will protect them, pursue the investigation or take the perpetrators into custody. Some may fear deportation, particularly if they do not have recognized legal status in the country.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Families
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, media played a major role in supporting and inciting ethnic hatred and violence against Tutsi and moderate Hutu populations. The newspaper Kangura spread hatred against Tutsis, publishing articles and graphic cartoons in which Tutsis were attacked. A wider audience was reached by radio stations, which were key in transmitting hate propaganda and incitement to violence. Radio Rwanda and Radio Télévision des Milles Collines (RTML) instigated, encouraged and directed massacres. Hate messages broadcast during the genocide referred to Tutsis as "cockroaches" and issued instructions to kill them. Nearly one million people were killed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
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
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur often came across gaps between the ambitious policies, legislation, action plans and programmes on minorities, on the one hand, and the lack of mechanisms in place to actually carry them out or monitor their implementation, on the other. She is concerned that during her tenure, several countries had difficulties in identifying the most relevant governmental departments in charge of minorities and even when they did so, their capacities in terms of staff, budget and authority often did not meet the necessary minimum standards to provide effective attention to and protection 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
- 2017
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- The national dimension of the institutional attention to minority issues must be complemented and reinforced by solid regional and international mechanisms tasked to promote domestication of minority rights, as well as the protection and promotion of minority standards regionally and internationally. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur recognizes several existing good practices, such as the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and various dedicated mechanisms of the Council of Europe, while also noting the need for further strengthening regional mechanisms. For instance, there are no specialized mechanisms on minorities within the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Economic Community of West African States or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Special Rapporteur began a dialogue, encouraging the creation of focal points on minorities within regional mechanisms as a starting point, and urged that consideration be given to the possible extension of the mandates of relevant existing bodies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 105
- Paragraph text
- The work of the former Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights has been of vital importance in the process of giving visibility to the issue of caste based discrimination. Following its resolution 2000/4, declaring that discrimination based on work and descent was a form of discrimination prohibited by international human rights law, the Sub-Commission appointed an expert to prepare a working paper on the topic to identify communities in which discrimination based on occupation and descent was ongoing, as well as to make concrete recommendations for the effective elimination of such discrimination. The outcome document (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/16) focused on countries in Asia only. Two Special Rapporteurs with the task of preparing a comprehensive study on discrimination based on work and descent were subsequently appointed, which led to the draft United Nations principles and guidelines for the effective elimination of discrimination based on work and descent, yet to be formally endorsed by the Human Rights Council.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- As part of its crucial role on minority issues, it is imperative that the United Nations take a stronger stance in advocating for minority rights protection at both national and regional levels, to ensure that States strengthen their legal, policy and institutional frameworks and that regional anti-discrimination and minority rights standards and mechanisms are put in place for the protection and promotion of minority rights, respectively. Equally, the Organization should consider strengthening existing mechanisms and platforms for minorities within the United Nations system, including the Forum on Minority Issues, by providing additional resources. Furthermore, the establishment of a committee to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948 is long overdue and would assist Member States in complying with their obligations under the Convention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- The Forum on Minority Issues, which replaced the Working Group on Minorities, was established in 2007 by the Human Rights Council in resolution 6/15 and reaffirmed in 2012 by resolution 19/23. It is mandated to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as well as to provide thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues. The Special Rapporteur is tasked with guiding the work of the Forum, preparing its annual meetings and reporting on the thematic recommendations of the Forum to the Council. The Forum meets annually in Geneva for two working days, allocated to thematic discussions. An average of more than 500 participants attend the Forum, including minorities, Member States, United Nations mechanisms, regional intergovernmental bodies and NGOs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- It will be important in the future to consider bringing the Forum on Minority Issues into the various regions so members of minorities and NGOs who cannot afford to travel to Geneva will be able to contribute to the Forum's deliberations in their respective localities. It would also be desirable to extend the session for longer than two days so more participants could take the floor and the discussions could go deeper into the heart of the recommendations. Other challenges include the limited awareness of the Forum at regional and local levels and the lack of capacity to follow up on the implementation of its recommendations. Furthermore, it will be important to foster the ownership of the Forum's agenda by minorities themselves, to encourage focused and constructive participation of States and minority representatives, to strengthen the engagement of other United Nations bodies in the Forum and to promote a more interactive dialogue and discussion during its sessions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has repeatedly emphasized that the collection and statistical analysis of disaggregated data on minorities are crucial to obtain important baseline information on the actual situation and status of minority communities. Such data would allow for adequate policy responses to minority issues, including the establishment and monitoring of targeted actions and programmes to prevent and address poverty, exclusion and discrimination. The Special Rapporteur urges States to collect data disaggregated on the basis of, inter alia, gender, ethnicity, language and religious affiliation. Individuals should be able to self-identify and express multiple identities. Data collection should be periodic and comply with international standards of privacy and personal data protection.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph