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State of the World's Minorities 2006

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State of the World's Minorities 2006 State of minority rights group theWorld’s international Minorities 2006 Events of 2004-5 State of theWorld’s Minorities 2006 Acknowledgements State of the World’s Minorities 2006 is published Minority Rights Group International (MRG) gratefully by MRG as a contribution to public understanding acknowledges the support of all organizations and of the issue which forms its subject. The text and individuals who gave financial and other assistance for views of the author do not necessarily represent in this publication including the Sigrid Rausing Trust and every detail and in all its aspects, the collective view Open Society Institute. of MRG. Editor: Richard Green. Minority Rights Group International Minority Rights Group International 54 Commercial Street, London, E1 6LT, United Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a Kingdom. Tel +44 (0)20 7422 4200, Fax +44 (0)20 non-governmental organization (NGO) working to 7422 4201, Email [email protected] secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic Website www.minorityrights.org minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide, and to promote cooperation and understanding between Getting involved communities. Our activities are focused on MRG relies on the generous support of institutions international advocacy, training, publishing and and individuals to further our work. All donations outreach. We are guided by the needs expressed by received contribute directly to our projects with our worldwide partner network of organizations minorities and indigenous peoples. which represent minority and indigenous peoples. One valuable way to support us is to subscribe to MRG works with over 150 organizations in our report series. Subscribers receive regular MRG nearly 50 countries. Our governing Council, which reports and our annual review. We also have over meets twice a year, has members from 10 different 100 titles which can be purchased from our countries. MRG has consultative status with the publications catalogue. In addition, MRG United Nations Economic and Social Council publications are available to minority and indigenous (ECOSOC), and observer status with the African peoples’ organizations through our library scheme. Commission on Human and People’s Rights. MRG MRG’s unique publications provide well- is registered as a charity and a company limited by researched, accurate and impartial information on guarantee under English law. Registered charity no. minority and indigenous peoples’ rights worldwide. 282305, limited company no. 1544957. We offer critical analysis and new perspectives on international issues. Our specialist training © Minority Rights Group International, December materials include essential guides for NGOs and 2005. All rights reserved. others on international human rights instruments, and on accessing international bodies. Many MRG Material from this publication may be reproduced publications have been translated into several for teaching or for other non-commercial purposes. languages. No part of it may be reproduced in any form for If you would like to know more about MRG, commercial purposes without the prior express how to support us and how to work with us, please permission of the copyright holders. visit our website www.minorityrights.org, or contact For further information please contact MRG. A our London office. CIP catalogue record of this publication is available from the British Library. Further reading from MRG p Aceh: Then and Now ISBN 1 904584 32 2. p Traditional Customary Laws and Indigenous Published December 2005. Peoples in Asia Design by Texture +44 (0)20 7739 7123 p Kenya: Minorities and Ethnic Diversity Printed in the UK p Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: A Guide for Minorities and Indigenous Peoples Cover photo p PRSPs, Minorities and Indigenous Peoples: An Christian family in northern Iraq. Issues Paper Carlos Reyes-Manzo/Andes Press Agency. p Preventing Genocide and Mass Killing State of theWorld’s Minorities 2006 Events of 2004-5 Edited by Richard Green With a preface by Juan E Méndez, UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide Minority Rights Group International 6 Preface Juan E Méndez, UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide 8 Introduction Peoples under Threat Mark Lattimer 19 World 20 Global Trends and Developments Asbjørn Eide 26 International Institutions and Law Gaetano Pentassuglia 43 Africa 44 African Institutions and Minority Rights Rachel Murray 50 Africa Julia Maxted 69 Americas 70 Latin America: Afro-descendants Darién J. Davis 78 Latin America: Indigenous Peoples Theodore Macdonald 88 Caribbean James Ferguson 92 North America Julia Seifer-Smith 99 Asia and Oceania 100 Central Asia Fernand de Varennes 106 North-East Asia Fernand de Varennes 114 South Asia Javaid Rehman 125 South-East Asia James Chin 132 Oceania Nic Maclellan 139 Europe 140 Europe Tove H. Malloy 165 Middle East 166 Middle East Nazila Ghanea 182 References 184 Peoples under Threat 2006 190 Discrimination and Self- Determination Conflicts 192 Status of Ratification of Major International and Regional Instruments relevant to Minority and Indigenous Rights 204 Excerpts from Relevant Instruments Concluding or Coming into Force 2004-5 208 Appendices 209 UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 211 Select Bibliography 211 Note on the Definition of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 212 Contributors Preface Juan E Méndez, UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide At the UN World Summit in New York in culture of prevention. Once mass human rights September 2005, the leaders of the world's countries violations or an armed conflict are already unanimously agreed that ‘the promotion and underway, it is much more difficult for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to international community to intervene successfully. If national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities potential conflict can be prevented at an early stage, contribute to political and social stability and peace the advantage is immeasurable, being counted in and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of lives saved as well as destruction avoided. But the society’. It was an important endorsement of the prompt prevention of genocide or other mass value of diversity and a recognition that the violations – which can occur in peacetime as well as protection of minorities makes a vital contribution during armed conflict – requires us to be much to the stability of all our societies, at a time when more aware of the ongoing situations faced by both have been called into question. minorities, and more sensitive to occasions when the In practice, the rights of minorities and discrimination they face deepens or becomes more indigenous peoples continue to be flouted. systematic. This is an important element in the UN Governments in both the South and the North developing a much more coherent and persist in labelling some people a threat simply comprehensive approach to the prevention of because they are members of a minority. Individuals genocide and other mass abuses. are targeted on account of the colour of their skin, That is why I welcome this first edition of the their faith or even the way they dress or speak; State of the World's Minorities, as a major new whole communities are subjected to systematic contribution to our knowledge of disadvantaged or discrimination. In extreme cases, such threatened communities. Effective monitoring of the discrimination leads to mass killing or other crimes situation of minorities and indigenous peoples under international law. around the globe provides an invaluable insight into As the UN Special Adviser to the Secretary- the societies in which we live, and enables those of General on the Prevention of Genocide, I am all too us working for human rights and conflict prevention aware that minorities or indigenous peoples are the at the UN to do our jobs better. More importantly, most frequent targets of genocide. Over the past it is the first step towards ensuring that the human century, minorities have found themselves rights of minorities are protected in reality. p particularly vulnerable, whether from colonial exploitation, authoritarianism of different political hues, or ethnic or religious intolerance. In case after case they have found themselves excluded from the concept of the nation or state as formulated by ruling elites, and outside its protection, with tragic consequences. My mandate refers not only to genocide but also to mass murder and other large-scale human rights violations, such as ethnic cleansing. My first task – working closely with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – is to collect information on potential or existing situations or threats of genocide, and their links to international peace and security. On the basis of that information, the Special Adviser acts as an early-warning mechanism to the UN Security Council and other parts of the UN system, including making recommendations on actions to be taken to prevent or halt genocide. The emphasis on prevention in my mandate is very important, and accords with a general shift in the UN moving from a culture of reaction to a Preface State of the World’s 7 Minorities 2006 Introduction Peoples underThreat Mark Lattimer With 2005 marking the 60th anniversary of the Identifying risk factors for ethnic killing liberation of the Nazi death camps, the 90th Attempts to predict the occurence of genocide or
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