Search Tips
sorted by
30 shown of 121 entities
7 columns hidden
Title | Date added | Template | Original document | Paragraph text | Body | Document type | Thematics | Topic(s) | Person(s) affected | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 64 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | In Nepal, according to UNDP, life expectancy of a Hill Dalit was 61 in 2009 compared to 68 for a higher caste Hill Brahmin. A 2011 Open Society Foundation study reported that Roma are disproportionately unvaccinated, have poorer than average nutrition and experience higher rates of infant mortality and tuberculosis. There is evidence that life expectancy among Roma communities is 10 to 15 years lower than in non-Roma communities. In Cameroon, visited by the Independent Expert in 2013, the access to health and health situation of Pygmy communities is extremely poor relative to other population groups. In Pakistan, UNICEF reports that the maternal mortality ratio for Baluchistan - largely inhabited by the Baluchi minority - is 758 per 100,000 live births, almost three times the national average of 276 per 100,000 and far from the MDG target of 140 per 100,000. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2014 | ||
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 69 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The huge impact of conflict and instability on minorities in Iraq has been documented, including for Muslim minorities, Baha'is, Christians, Armenians, Chaldo-Assyrians, Faili Kurds, Palestinians, Jews, Sabian Mandaeans, Yazidis and others. Minority Rights Group states that: "Minorities in Iraq have continued to be targeted on the grounds of their religion or ethnicity since the US-led invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. They have suffered from killings, kidnappings, torture, harassment, forced conversions and the destruction of homes and property." Persecution, human rights violations and targeted attacks have led to vast numbers of internally displaced persons and a mass exodus of minority communities to neighbouring countries, where they continue to experience severe challenges and poverty. Equally, in Egypt and the Syrian Arab Republic, the full extent of unrest and conflict on minorities is becoming evident and has far-reaching implications for their rights and security. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2014 | ||
Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post- 2015 development agendas 2014, para. 70 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | In Rakhine State in Myanmar, conflict between the Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya communities erupted in 2012 and resulted in the killing of hundreds, the destruction of homes and property and the internal displacement of over 130,000 people, mostly minority Muslims. Tens of thousands of displaced people, and many thousands of others in villages affected by the conflict and insecurity, now have no access to livelihood activities or income, are dependent on humanitarian assistance for food, shelter, health care, education and water and sanitation. The conflict has had a catastrophic impact on their rights, access to essential services and development, forcing many into a condition of extreme poverty and insecurity. The Government of Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as citizens with implications for their enjoyment of all their human rights. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2014 | ||
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 28 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | In Europe, in 2008, the Fundamental Rights Agency conducted a survey of 23,500 respondents from ethnic minority and immigrant groups to assess how many had been victims of assault, threat or serious harassment with a perceived racist motive. The survey found that between 16 per cent and 32 per cent of Roma, and between 19 per cent and 32 per cent of persons of African origin reported being victims of racial discrimination. Another survey of 5,900 respondents in nine European Union Member States found that up to one third of Jewish people had experienced verbal abuse or physical anti-semitic violence. The Special Rapporteur considers that many incidents could be prevented with timely and appropriate responses to hateful messages, including through better representation and inclusion of minorities in mainstream communication platforms. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2015 | ||
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 50 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The European Court of Human Rights, in its recommendations and jurisprudence on the European Convention on Human Rights, has identified a number of forms of expression which are considered offensive and contrary to the Convention, including racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, aggressive nationalism and discrimination against minorities and immigrants. The Court makes a distinction between genuine and serious incitement to extremism and, on the other hand the right of individuals (including journalists and politicians) to express their views freely and to "offend, shock or disturb" others. Other relevant standards include the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime and its Additional Protocol and the Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating certain forms and expression of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2015 | ||
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 55 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers uses a broader approach: "the term "hate speech" shall be understood as covering all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, anti?Semitism or other forms of hatred based on intolerance, including: intolerance expressed by aggressive nationalism and ethnocentrism, discrimination and hostility against minorities, migrants and people of immigrant origin." | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2015 | ||
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 79 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | Online media and communication platforms make it easier for extremist groups to organize themselves, even transnationally. In Europe, anti-immigrant populist radical-right political parties increased their representation in the European Parliament from only 8 per cent in 2009 to close to 15 per cent in the 2014 election. This rise of ethno-nationalist right-wing parties is also a consequence of the trend towards less extreme "hate" language and more sophisticated and "moderate" manifestations of far-right messages which appeal to a wider group of voters, resulting in their having a bigger impact on mainstream society. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2015 | ||
Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 86 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | During the disputed presidential elections in Kenya in 2007, violence, triggered by hate speech and incitement to hatred by political and religious leaders in the media, left more than 1,000 people dead and half a million displaced. As a result, Kenya established the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, tasked to promote ethnic harmony and investigate complaints of ethnic or racial discrimination or any issue affecting ethnic and racial relations. The Commission has been tackling hate speech through action, including the development of guidelines for media outlets, training manuals for law enforcement officers, workshops and conferences. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2015 | ||
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 31 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | Estimates indicate that over 250 million people suffer from caste-based discrimination worldwide. Though the highest numbers of affected communities are concentrated in South Asia, particularly India and Nepal, discrimination on the grounds of caste or analogous status is a global phenomenon and can be found in other geographical contexts, including in Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific region, as well as in diaspora communities. Although the following examples are not exhaustive, they aim to be illustrative of caste-affected communities in different regions. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 35 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | In Sri Lanka, three parallel caste systems (Sinhala, Sri Lanka Tamil and Indian Tamil groups) coexist; caste discrimination is found in each one. Within the Sinhala system, lower caste groups, including the Rodi, have low levels of education, suffer extreme poverty and lack of assets and are under continued pressure to pursue hereditary caste occupations, such as removing dead animals and dirt. In the Sri Lanka Tamil caste system, the bottom stratum is comprised of a myriad of groups collectively labelled as Panchamar and regarded as "untouchables". Population displacement due to war and the 2004 tsunami has resulted in a large internal displaced population in the Jaffna peninsula, with a disproportionate presence of Panchamar groups now in camps for internally displaced persons. The caste system among Indian Tamils traces its origins to their arrival to the plantations as indentured labourers during the colonial era and presents unique characteristics, which differ from the traditional Indian caste system. Some features are common, however, including the avoidance of inter-caste marriage and the link between lower castes and greater levels of poverty. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 45 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The caste system migrated with the South Asian diaspora to other regions, including Africa (Mauritius, South Africa), Europe (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), the Americas (United States of America, Canada and Suriname), the Middle East (Bahrain, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates), Malaysia, Australia and the Pacific (Fiji). | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 94 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | Reports indicate that discriminatory practices against Dalits in humanitarian response include priority given to dominant castes in rescue operations; denial of or unequal access to relief camps, food, water, health services, shelter, housing and education; segregation in camp facilities; prohibition of use of the common sanitation facilities; segregation in commensal groups; lack of compensation or restitution of assets due to lack of documentation to claim entitlements related to land and property; and lack of participation of affected communities in decision-making regarding reconstruction. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities and effective political participation: a survey of law and national practices 2010, para. 40 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The right to effective participation has more recently been strengthened with regard to groups strongly at risk of marginalization. Article 41 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families protects the rights of documented and regular migrant workers and their families to participate in the public affairs of their State of origin and to be elected through elections of that State. Perhaps more importantly, article 42 requires the States of employment to facilitate the consultation or participation of migrant workers and members of their families in decisions concerning the life and administration of local communities; States of employment may, moreover, grant migrant workers the enjoyment of political rights. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2010 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 15 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the scale of global humanitarian needs is higher than ever. As of December 2015, there were an estimated 125 million people in need of humanitarian assistance worldwide. Ongoing humanitarian crises in the Syrian Arab Republic, South Sudan and Iraq, and other natural disasters and medical outbreaks, including the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, have affected the lives of tens of millions of people. Large numbers of people continue to suffer as a result of other new, chronic or recurrent conflicts, crises and disasters. Moreover, currently there are unprecedented numbers of persons displaced worldwide with situations of protracted conflict and violence creating increasingly large numbers of both refugees and internally displaced persons. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner Refugees, by the end of 2015, 65.3 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide; the highest number to date, as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations. Furthermore, an estimated 107.3 million people (also the highest to date) were displaced by disasters. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 18 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | [In this context the Special Rapporteur on minority issues has decided to dedicate her final report to the General Assembly to this important topic, considering two guiding questions:] In the context of humanitarian crises or disasters, what are the additional challenges that minorities face when seeking protection, even when the trigger of their displacement or changed situation is not directly linked to their affiliation as members of that minority group? | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 20 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | While recognizing the great diversity in the experiences of minorities affected by humanitarian crises, the Special Rapporteur has adopted a global approach, focusing on common themes and patterns experienced by displaced minorities across regions. The Special Rapporteur also refers to particular examples to highlight specific challenges facing minorities. These cases are intended to be illustrative and are in no way exhaustive. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 22 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | Although some studies on specific displacement situations affecting minorities do exist, the Special Rapporteur has observed that there is a lack of accurate, global, disaggregated data that would allow for a clearer global picture of how minorities are affected by humanitarian crises, whether driven by conflict or owing to disasters. While some ad hoc case studies are available on specific situations, much work remains to be done to better document this phenomenon globally through the collection of comprehensive disaggregated data. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 23 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The Special Rapporteur is aware that there are a number of reasons underlying the lack of readily available data in this field. First, there is the likely reluctance of minorities displaced or affected by crises to identify themselves as ethnic, national, religious or linguistic minorities for fear of further discrimination or violence. Second, States may be unwilling to collect such data, insofar as they do not recognize the affected minority group members as citizens, do not recognize their minority status, do not recognize they have been displaced or do not want to draw attention to specific difficulties faced by members of their societies. Finally, in displacement contexts, humanitarian agencies tend to disaggregate data mainly by sex and age, and rarely address other categories, including minority status or special needs. The lack of accurate data and needs assessment of specific groups such as minorities has therefore had an impact on the ability to develop humanitarian programmes that target and address comprehensively discrimination facing minorities in the context of crises. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 26 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | At the national level, this may involve internal armed conflict or hostilities within a State. At the international level, this may involve international armed conflict between two or more armed forces of different countries. Such outbreaks of conflict may cause large-scale mass movements of people, as they flee violence and chaos. This can lead to internal displacement, as well as international migration flows, as affected individuals and communities flee their homes within their own country as internally displaced persons, or migrate abroad, including through seeking asylum. Conflict may also lead to other large-scale humanitarian crises such as epidemics, food or water insecurity, among others. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 37 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol are the key international legal instruments defining international refugee protection obligations, at the global level. The Convention defines a refugee and the rights attached to refugee status. The 1967 Protocol subsequently removed the temporal found in the 1951 Convention. Indeed, the core principles of refugee protection as defined by the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol therefore provide specific protection on the basis of persecution because of minority status. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 38 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The Convention also stipulates in its article 3 that "Contracting States shall apply the provisions of this Convention to refugees without discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin". Therefore, refugees arriving in a country and becoming a minority in the host country should be protected against discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 39 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | UNHCR has also developed policies and materials that provide further guidance regarding refugees on how to ensure that refugee protection responses are participatory, non-discriminatory, and sensitive to the specific needs of all persons of concern, including the specific needs of members of minority groups. Its Executive Committee (ExCom), comprising over 90 States, adopted in 2005 a General Conclusion on International Protection No. 102 which "acknowledges the important contribution of the age and gender and diversity mainstreaming strategy in identifying, through a participatory approach, the protection risks faced by the different members of the refugee community; and encourages UNHCR and its NGO partners to continue to roll out and implement on the ground this important strategy, as a means to promote the rights and well-being of all refugees, in particular the non-discriminatory treatment and protection of refugee women and refugee children and minority groups of refugees". | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 41 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | Finally, UNHCR's Working with National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and Indigenous Peoples in Forced Displacement (2011) is a very useful tool which acknowledges the potential vulnerabilities of minorities who are displaced, and recognizes that these obstacles may be multiplied during forced displacement and increase protection risks. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 42 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (1998) (see E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2) are based upon existing international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as analogous refugee law, and are intended to serve as the international standard guiding States, international organizations and other relevant actors in providing assistance and protection to internally displaced persons. Principle 6.2 stipulates that "the prohibition of arbitrary displacement includes displacement: (a) when it is based on policies of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, or similar practices aimed at/or resulting in altering the ethnic, religious or racial composition of the affected population". Principle 9 further stipulates that "States are under a particular obligation to protect against the displacement of indigenous peoples, minorities, peasants, pastoralists and other groups with a special dependency on and attachment to their lands". | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 43 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | At the regional level there have also been some specific instruments and references to minorities in the context of crises. The Organization of African Unity has adopted the Convention governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (1969). Furthermore, during the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, held in 2006, 11 States adopted the binding Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region, comprising 10 separate protocols, including the Protocol on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons. Principles 6 and 9 of the Protocol replicate the provisions of Guiding Principles 6 and 9 referenced above on protection from displacement and on specific protection granted to indigenous peoples, minorities and other groups. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 44 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The above-mentioned Protocol further served as impetus for the African Union to draft the first legally binding regional instrument on internally displaced persons: the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of internally displaced persons in Africa (Kampala Convention). The Convention, which was adopted in 2009 and entered into force in 2012, advances a regional approach to protecting the rights of internally displaced persons in efforts to achieve peace, security and development. In terms of minority rights protection, article 4(5) stipulates that the prohibited categories of arbitrary displacement include but are not limited to "displacement based on policies of racial discrimination or other similar practices aimed at/or resulting in altering the ethnic, religious or racial composition of the population". Article 5 of the Convention provides that "States Parties shall endeavour to protect communities with special attachment to, and dependency on, land due to their particular culture and spiritual values from being displaced from such lands, except for compelling and overriding public interests". | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 45 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | The 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees (Cartagena Declaration) is heralded as a key accomplishment in the development of the refugee protection regime in the Americas. Adopting a broad definition of who can be considered a refugee, it goes beyond the definition contained in article 1(A) of the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, by extending to "persons who have fled their country because their lives, safety or freedom have been threatened by generalized violence, foreign aggression, internal conflicts, massive violation of human rights or other circumstances which have seriously disturbed public order." Although not binding, some States have adopted it into their national law. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 46 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | Furthermore, in 2013, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States approved two new international legal instruments: the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance and the Inter-American Convention against all Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance. The latter is more comprehensive in the protection of vulnerable groups, including minorities, and also includes innovative formulations that specifically benefit internally displaced persons in the region. The Convention expressly forbids discrimination against internally displaced persons regarding access to public services and curtailment of rights related to employment, subsistence and political participation. Therefore the Convention can also assist in situations of discrimination against internally displaced persons who also belong to other minority groups. The Convention, however, has not yet entered into force. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 47 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | There is sometimes a direct causal link between belonging to a minority group and being affected by a humanitarian crisis. Indeed, belonging to a minority group can be a direct factor leading to displacement in the context of conflict. As has been observed by OHCHR, the "lack of respect for, lack of protection and lack of fulfilment of the rights of minorities may be at least a contributing factor if not the primary cause of displacement and may in the worst cases - even lead to the extinction of such communities. The displacement of minorities can thus serve as an indicator of the degree to which their rights are respected, protected and fulfilled in the country from which they are displaced." | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 | ||
Minorities in situations of humanitarian crises 2016, para. 50 | Aug 19, 2019 | Paragraph | Indeed, displacement of minority communities continued unabated in 2014 and 2015. In Iraq, visited by the Special Rapporteur in February 2016, the Yezidi minority have been targeted on the basis of their identity by the Islamic State, and forced to flee their homes, in particular in Sinjar, Northern Iraq. Other Iraqi minority communities, including Christians, Turkmen, and certain Sunni Arab tribes, have also been particularly exposed to attacks by members of the Islamic State. | Special Rapporteur on minority issues | Special Procedures' report |
|
| 2016 |