Download or read book World Directory of Minorities written by Bridget Anderson and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 1997-01-01 with total page 857 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication is the first version of the World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, published in 1997. The full Directory is now available and continually updated on our website. The large majority of violent conflicts in the world today are conflicts within states, with groups polarized across ethnic and religious divides and not across borders. Ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities are often among the poorest of the poor, suffer discrimination and are frequently the victims of human rights abuses. Time and time again in the past, the United Nations system, governments and even non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the field of ‘conflict prevention’ have failed to promote the human rights of minorities or to take early action to promote cooperation between communities. Early action may have prevented the loss of millions of lives in many countries, ranging from Rwanda to the former Yugoslavia, and from Sri Lanka to Guatemala. It is also significant that the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Dalai Lama in 1989 and to Jose´ Ramos-Horta and Bishop Carlos Belo in1996 as a result of their peaceful campaigns to promote the rights of their people. The situation of minorities is, then, a matter of major concern, and it is essential that accurate, objective and up-to-date information is made available. This Directory contributes to that process. It is difficult to assess accurately what proportion of the world’s population identify themselves as belonging to minority communities. Conservative estimates place this above 10 per cent, and some suggest that more than 20 per cent of the world’s population belongs to several thousand different minority groups and subgroups. National statistics are often skewed for political reasons, and there is no universally accepted definition of ‘minorities’. The word has different interpretations in different societies throughout the world, while the United Nations General Assembly has not sought to reach a definition beyond that implied in the title of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities adopted in December 1992. Minority Rights Group focuses its work on non-dominant ethnic, religious and linguistic communities, whether or not they are numerical minorities. The concept thus relates to any self-identified community that is marginalized, without power, unable to take decisions over its destiny and often experiencing high levels of illiteracy, under-education and overt or covert discrimination. The basic rights of such communities need protection and promotion. There is, however, a danger of generalizing about minorities and forgetting the complexity of their social composition, including the rural poor, urban migrants, older people, women and children. These groups may be considered as doubly vulnerable. What makes their situation particularly problematic is that there is often a deliberate political policy on the part of majorities and states not to give due regard to the legitimate interests of minorities, while members of minorities see their identity as central to their social and economic situation. They are often excluded from political power and decision-making in the development process, without equal opportunities to secure a better quality of life. One further danger may lie in regarding ethnicities as fixed, rather than as the potentially fluid phenomena that they often are. ‘Situational ethnicity’ does occur, and individuals and groups do modify their self-identifications depending on circumstances. Please note that the terminology in the fields of minority rights and indigenous peoples’ rights has changed over time. MRG strives to reflect these changes as well as respect the right to self-identification on the part of minorities and indigenous peoples. At the same time, after over 50 years’ work, we know that our archive is of considerable interest to activists and researchers. Therefore, we make available as much of our back catalogue as possible, while being aware that the language used may not reflect current thinking on these issues.
Download or read book Minority Rights The Key to Conflict Prevention written by Clive Baldwin and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 2007-05-12 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report, Minority Rights: The Key to Conflict Prevention, cogently argues that an understanding of minority rights is essential for anyone dealing with conflict prevention and resolution. The report’s authors, Clive Baldwin, Chris Chapman and Zoë Gray, demonstrate the strong links between minority rights violations and the outbreak of major conflicts, drawing on research carried out in China, India, Iraq, Kosovo, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Sudan, among other states. MRG’s report shows how minority rights violations are often warning signs of an approaching conflict. This new report looks at five themes: minority identity, the ability of minorities to participate in political and economic life, land/property rights and justice issues. Using case studies and providing practical advice, the authors show why ignoring early warning signs in any of these areas could lead to a build up of tensions and ultimately, violent conflict. The international community’s record on minority rights and conflict prevention is examined and found wanting. The report concludes with a checklist and a series of recommendations aimed at international bodies working on conflict prevention and resolution.
Download or read book State of the World s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2016 written by Peter Grant and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 2016-07-12 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The unique cultures of minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide – spanning a wide variety of customs and practices – are under threat. This year’s edition of State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples highlights the impact of land dispossession, forced assimilation and other forms of discrimination on the most fundamental aspects of their identity, including language, art, traditional knowledge and spirituality. But while the effects of this attrition can be devastating, minority and indigenous cultures have also been critical in strengthening communities and providing activists with a platform to fight for their rights. As this volume illustrates, ensuring that the cultural freedoms of minorities and indigenous peoples are protected is essential if their other rights are also to be respected.
Download or read book State of the World s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2013 written by Beth Walker and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 2013-09-24 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In almost every country in the world, minorities and indigenous peoples suffer greater ill-health and receive poorer quality of care than other segments of the population. They die younger, face higher rates of disease and struggle more to access health services compared to the rest of the population. This year's edition of State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples presents a global picture of the health issues experienced by minorities and indegenous communities, features country profiles and case studies, and makes recommendations for addressing these key issues.
Download or read book World Directory of Minorities written by Bridget Anderson and published by London : Minority Rights Group International. This book was released on 1997 with total page 864 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 160 entries update and expand the previous reports and compilations by the London-based Minority Rights Group. The selection is not intended to be exhaustive, but to provide complete and consistent information for each minority described. The entries, averaging a couple pages, trace the origin and history of the people, summarize their relations to the relevant majority, and assess their current status. Arranged by region, with an introduction to each section. Includes 29 maps. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Download or read book State of the World s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2015 written by Peter Grant and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 2015-07-02 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a context of rapid growth, an increasing proportion of minorities and indigenous peoples are now living in urban areas. But while they offer the possibility of greater freedoms, improved livelihoods and more equitable opportunities, cities often magnify existing patterns of discrimination and insecurity. This year's edition of State of the world's minorities and indigenous peoples explores the many challenges communities face in urban areas, from segregation and lack of services to targeted violence and exclusion. Nevertheless, the volume also includes numerous cases of minorities and indigenous peoples achieving better social and political outcomes for themselves in cities, as well as examples of the substantial benefits their inclusion can bring to the entire urban population.
Download or read book Minority Rights Group International Report written by Minority Rights Group International and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Minority Rights A guide to United Nations Procedures and Institutions written by Gudmundur Alfredsson and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 1998-12-01 with total page 41 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Guide outlines the procedures currently available for the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities within the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations. The Guide was prepared as a tool for training courses on minority rights. It has been piloted on two courses in Geneva and Budapest organized for representatives from minority communities and those working with minorities. One of the authors participated in both courses. The Guide will be used on future training courses for minorities and for government officials by Minority Rights Group International and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. In addition to its role as course material, the guide also provides a work of reference which will be of interest to all those concerned about minority rights.
Download or read book Minorities in Cambodia written by International Centre for Ethnic Studies and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Minority Rights written by Clive Baldwin and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 2007 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new report looks at five themes: minority identity, the ability of minorities to participate in political and economic life, land/property rights and justice issues. Using case studies and providing practical advice, the authors show why ignoring early warning signs in any of these areas could lead to a build up of tensions and ultimately, violent conflict.
Download or read book Minority Rights Group International Report written by and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Sri Lanka written by Elizabeth Nissan and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 500 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Promoting and Protecting Minority Rights written by United Nations and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The present guide offers information related to norms and mechanisms developed to protect the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities. It includes detailed information about procedures and forums in which minority issues may be raised to minorities and by also covering selected specialized agencies and regional mechanisms, the present Guide complements information contained in Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme: A Handbook for Civil Society"--Introduction.
Download or read book Religious Minorities in Pakistan written by Iftikhar H. Malik and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 2002-10-10 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent massacres of religious minorities in Pakistan have focused new attention on the predicament of minorities in a country that is generally perceived to be a homogeneous Muslim nation. In fact, besides five ethno-regional groups (Baloch, Muhajir, Punjabi, Pushtuns and Sindhis), there are numerous religious groups including Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus, together with several smaller Islamic groups.Pakistan has been ruled by the military for much of its existence. The political use of religion by governments and a weak civil society pose enormous challenges for minorities in Pakistan. Non-Muslim minorities and women in Pakistan are subject to harsh religious laws, while some minority Muslim groups face similar forms of discrimination. Constitutional amendments and the Blasphemy Law have deprived minorities of religious freedom and violated their rights as citizens. In addition, the decision of the current military regime to join the US-led coalition against terrorism has provoked popular resentment and an internal backlash by extremist groups with renewed violence against minorities.This report aims to enhance understanding of religious minorities in Pakistan and increase awareness of the need for the protection of minority and gender-based rights across communities. With a general election due this year, this report is timely and of direct relevance to both the international community and agencies concerned with Pakistan.
Download or read book Minority Rights in the Middle East written by Joshua Castellino and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2013-04-25 with total page 502 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Within the Middle East there are a wide range of minority groups outside the mainstream religious and ethnic culture. This book provides a detailed examination of their rights as minorities within this region, and their changing status throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The rights of minorities in the Middle East are subject to a range of legal frameworks, having developed in part from Islamic law, and in recent years subject to international human rights law and institutional frameworks. The book examines the context in which minority rights operate within this conflicted region, investigating how minorities engage with (or are excluded from) various sites of power and how state practice in dealing with minorities (often ostensibly based on Islamic authority) intersects with and informs modern constitutionalism and international law. The book identifies who exactly can be classed as a minority group, analysing in detail the different religious and ethnic minorities across the region. The book also pays special attention to the plight of minorities who are spread between various states, often as the result of conflict. It assesses the applicable domestic legislative instruments within the three countries investigated as case studies: Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and highlights key domestic remedies that could serve as models for ensuring greater social cohesion and greater inclusion of minorities in the political life of these countries.
Download or read book Minority Rights Group International written by Minority Rights Group International and published by . This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Protecting the Rights of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples in the Russian Federation Challenges and Ways Forward written by Federica Prina and published by Minority Rights Group. This book was released on 2014-11-25 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report provides an overview of the present situation of minority and indigenous peoples’ rights in Russia. It examines the difficulties in the implementation of international mechanisms for minority and indigenous protection, with a focus on the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, although other international standards (emanating from the OSCE and United Nations) are also taken into account. In particular, the report considers the complexities in the participation of civil society in international monitoring mechanisms. Following an introduction and an overview of domestic and international legislation, the report provides: a) an overview of the main problems confronting minorities and indigenous peoples in Russia; and b) an outline of the factors affecting the implementation of international mechanisms on minority and indigenous protection. It ends with a series of recommendations to improve the participation, recognition and treatment of minorities and indigenous peoples in the country.
