DOCSLIB.ORG

Legal Instruments to Combat Racism and Xenophobia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Legal Instruments to Combat Racism and Xenophobia Commission of the European Communities Legal instruments to combat racism and xenophobia Comparative assessment of the legal instruments implemented in the various Member States to combat all forms of discrimination, racism and xenophobia and incitement to hatred and raciql violence December 1992 Directorate General Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs 200, rue de Ia Loi, B - 1 049 Brussels This document has been prepared for use within the Commission. It does not necessarily represent the Commission's official position. Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1993 ISBN 92-826-5423-0 © ECSC-EEC-EAEC, Brussels • Luxembourg, 1993 Reproduction is authorized, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium Preface The resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting in the Council of 29 May 1990 on the fight against racism and xenophobia, noted that the Commission was to make a comparative assessment of the legal instruments implemented in the various Member States to combat all forms of discrimination, racism and xenophobia and incitement to hatred and racial violence1 and that it would help to improve dissemination of information on these legal instruments. In order to implement this action, the Directorate General f.or Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs invited tenders in March 1991 2 whereby the Commission tried to assure that organizations competent to do the research would participate. Twelve national reports have been provided by the rapporteurs3 chosen among the bidders. On the basis of these national reports, the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg wrote up the present report. The fight against racism and xenophobia is to be viewed in the framework of the protection of fundamental rights4, confirmed in the preamble to the Single European Act5 reminding the Member States "to promote democracy on the basis of the fundamental rights recognized in the constitutions and Jaws of the Member States, in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the European Social Charter, notably freedom, equality and social justice" and recalling the responsibility incumbent upon Europe "in particular to display the principles of democracy and compliance with the law and with human rights to which they are attached". 1 OJ No C 157, 27.06.1990. 2 OJ No C 84, 28.03.1991. 3 See Annex I. 4 See especially the Joint Declaration on the Protection of Fundamental Rights in the European Community. OJ No C 103, 07.04.1977. 5 OJNoL169,29.06.1987. CONTENTS I. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5 II. Demographic and Socioeconomic Status of Minorities in Europe ................................. 6 A. Immigration to Community Member States ................................................... 6 B. Current Demographics and the Problem of Racism in EC Member States .......................................................................................................... 7 C. Social and Economic Situation of Minorities .................................................. 10 Ill. General Policies of EC Member States on Legal Measures to Combat Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia ....................................................................... 12 A. Issues of definition and scope of problem ..................................................... 12 B. Summary of Legal Instruments and Policies to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia ............................................................... 16 1. Summary of legal instruments ...................................................................... 16 2. General policies toward equality and discrimination ......................................... 16 IV. Constitutional Provisions to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia ............................................................................................................. 1 9 A. Statements of Equality .............................................................................. 19 B. Equality and Non-Discrimination Provisions ................................................... 20 C. Bans on Racist Expressions and Organizations .............................................. 22 D. Jurisprudence Interpreting and Applying Constitutional Norms ........................ 22 V. International Legal Norms Applicable in EC Member States to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia .............................................................. 26 A. Treaty Provisions Concerning Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia .................................................................................................. 26 B. Jurisprudence of International Human Rights Organs ...................................... 30 C. Applicability and Enforcement of International Norms in National Law ............................................................................................................. 31 D. Norms of Customary International Law ........................................................ 34 VI. Legislative and Regulatory Provisions .................................................................... 35 A. General Laws ........................................................................................... 35 B. Criminal Laws ........................................................................................... 37 C. Measures Concerning Specific Discriminatory Conduct ................................... 39 1 . Housing ................................................................................................... 39 2. Employment .............................................................................................. 40 3. Education ................................................................................................. 41 4. Liberty of Religion ...................................................................................... 43 5. Commercial Activities, including provision of goods and services and access to facilities ......................................................................................... 43 6. Participation in elections and government at all levels ..................................... 44 7. Health ..................................................................................................... 44 8. Administration of Justice ........................................................................... 45 9. Marriage and family, including adoption ........................................................ 45 3 VII. Indirect or Institutional Racism ........................................................................... 4 7 VIII. The Scope of Application of Legal Measures ......................................................... 48 A. Duties of Public Officials and Constitutional or Legislative Immunities ............... 48 B. Application of Legal Measures to Private Non-Commercial Activities ................. 50 C. Incitement to Racial Hatred and Issues of Free Speech .................................... 51 1. Expression and non-press publications or organizations .................................. 52 2. Advertising .............................................................................................. 53 3. Press laws and codes of conduct ................................................................ 53 4. Mailing or posting ..................................................................................... 55 IX. Penalties and Remedies ....................................................................................... 56 A. Criminal Sanctions .................................................................................... 56 1 . The Range of Penalties .............................................................................. 56 2. Application of criminal penalties .................................................................. 58 B. Civil Remedies ........................................................................................... 61 1 . Civil actions .............................................................................................. 61 2. Procedural and Substantive Requirements ................- ..................................... 64 3. Potential remedies ..................................................................................... 65 C. Administrative Agencies and Ombudsmen .................................................... 66 D. Assistance to Victims to Bring Claims .......................................................... 69 1 . Financial assistance through legal aid ........................................................... 69 2. Assistance and representation by non-governmental associations and organizations combatting racism ................................................................ 70 X. Affirmative Measures and Programs to Combat and Prevent Discrimination, Racism or Xenophobia .............................................................................................. 72 Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 74 Tables .................................................................................................................... 77 International Conventions
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Blacks and Asians in Mississippi Masala, Barriers to Coalition Building
    Both Edges of the Margin: Blacks and Asians in Mississippi Masala, Barriers to Coalition Building Taunya Lovell Bankst Asians often take the middle position between White privilege and Black subordination and therefore participate in what Professor Banks calls "simultaneous racism," where one racially subordinatedgroup subordi- nates another. She observes that the experience of Asian Indian immi- grants in Mira Nair's film parallels a much earlier Chinese immigrant experience in Mississippi, indicatinga pattern of how the dominantpower uses law to enforce insularityamong and thereby control different groups in a pluralistic society. However, Banks argues that the mere existence of such legal constraintsdoes not excuse the behavior of White appeasement or group insularityamong both Asians and Blacks. Instead,she makes an appealfor engaging in the difficult task of coalition-buildingon political, economic, socialand personallevels among minority groups. "When races come together, as in the present age, it should not be merely the gathering of a crowd; there must be a bond of relation, or they will collide...." -Rabindranath Tagore1 "When spiders unite, they can tie up a lion." -Ethiopian proverb I. INTRODUCTION In the 1870s, White land owners recruited poor laborers from Sze Yap or the Four Counties districts in China to work on plantations in the Mis- sissippi Delta, marking the formal entry of Asians2 into Mississippi's black © 1998 Asian Law Journal, Inc. I Jacob A. France Professor of Equality Jurisprudence, University of Maryland School of Law. The author thanks Muriel Morisey, Maxwell Chibundu, and Frank Wu for their suggestions and comments on earlier drafts of this Article. 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Minority Rights
    Fact Sheet No.18 (Rev.1), Minority Rights Contents: o Introduction o Provisions for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Persons belonging to Minorities o The Implementation of Special Rights and the Promotion of further Measures for the Protection of Minorities o Complaints Procedures o Early Warning Mechanisms o Role of Non-Governmental Organizations o The Way Ahead Annex I: Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (Adopted by General Assembly resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992) Introduction "... The promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to the political and social stability of States in which they live" (Preamble of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities) (1) Almost all States have one or more minority groups within their national territories, characterized by their own ethnic, linguistic or religious identity which differs from that of the majority population. Harmonious relations among minorities and between minorities and majorities and respect for each group's identity is a great asset to the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural diversity of our global society. Meeting the aspirations of national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups and ensuring the rights of persons belonging to minorities acknowledges the dignity and equality of all individuals, furthers participatory development, and thus contributes to the lessening of tensions among groups and individuals. These factors are a major determinant etc. of stability and peace. The protection of minorities has not, until recently, attracted the same level of attention as that accorded other rights which the United Nations considered as having a greater urgency.
    [Show full text]
  • Reactionary Postmodernism? Neoliberalism, Multiculturalism, the Internet, and the Ideology of the New Far Right in Germany
    University of Vermont ScholarWorks @ UVM UVM Honors College Senior Theses Undergraduate Theses 2018 Reactionary Postmodernism? Neoliberalism, Multiculturalism, the Internet, and the Ideology of the New Far Right in Germany William Peter Fitz University of Vermont Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/hcoltheses Recommended Citation Fitz, William Peter, "Reactionary Postmodernism? Neoliberalism, Multiculturalism, the Internet, and the Ideology of the New Far Right in Germany" (2018). UVM Honors College Senior Theses. 275. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/hcoltheses/275 This Honors College Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Undergraduate Theses at ScholarWorks @ UVM. It has been accepted for inclusion in UVM Honors College Senior Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ UVM. For more information, please contact [email protected]. REACTIONARY POSTMODERNISM? NEOLIBERALISM, MULTICULTURALISM, THE INTERNET, AND THE IDEOLOGY OF THE NEW FAR RIGHT IN GERMANY A Thesis Presented by William Peter Fitz to The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of The University of Vermont In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts In European Studies with Honors December 2018 Defense Date: December 4th, 2018 Thesis Committee: Alan E. Steinweis, Ph.D., Advisor Susanna Schrafstetter, Ph.D., Chairperson Adriana Borra, M.A. Table of Contents Introduction 1 Chapter One: Neoliberalism and Xenophobia 17 Chapter Two: Multiculturalism and Cultural Identity 52 Chapter Three: The Philosophy of the New Right 84 Chapter Four: The Internet and Meme Warfare 116 Conclusion 149 Bibliography 166 1 “Perhaps one will view the rise of the Alternative for Germany in the foreseeable future as inevitable, as a portent for major changes, one that is as necessary as it was predictable.
    [Show full text]
  • Race and Membership in American History: the Eugenics Movement
    Race and Membership in American History: The Eugenics Movement Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, Inc. Brookline, Massachusetts Eugenicstextfinal.qxp 11/6/2006 10:05 AM Page 2 For permission to reproduce the following photographs, posters, and charts in this book, grateful acknowledgement is made to the following: Cover: “Mixed Types of Uncivilized Peoples” from Truman State University. (Image #1028 from Cold Spring Harbor Eugenics Archive, http://www.eugenics archive.org/eugenics/). Fitter Family Contest winners, Kansas State Fair, from American Philosophical Society (image #94 at http://www.amphilsoc.org/ library/guides/eugenics.htm). Ellis Island image from the Library of Congress. Petrus Camper’s illustration of “facial angles” from The Works of the Late Professor Camper by Thomas Cogan, M.D., London: Dilly, 1794. Inside: p. 45: The Works of the Late Professor Camper by Thomas Cogan, M.D., London: Dilly, 1794. 51: “Observations on the Size of the Brain in Various Races and Families of Man” by Samuel Morton. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, vol. 4, 1849. 74: The American Philosophical Society. 77: Heredity in Relation to Eugenics, Charles Davenport. New York: Henry Holt &Co., 1911. 99: Special Collections and Preservation Division, Chicago Public Library. 116: The Missouri Historical Society. 119: The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, 1882; John Singer Sargent, American (1856-1925). Oil on canvas; 87 3/8 x 87 5/8 in. (221.9 x 222.6 cm.). Gift of Mary Louisa Boit, Julia Overing Boit, Jane Hubbard Boit, and Florence D. Boit in memory of their father, Edward Darley Boit, 19.124.
    [Show full text]
  • Race, Religion and Nationality in Immigration Selection: 120 Years After the Chinese Exclusion Case Liav Orgad
    University of Minnesota Law School Scholarship Repository Constitutional Commentary 2010 Race, Religion and Nationality in Immigration Selection: 120 Years After the Chinese Exclusion Case Liav Orgad Theodore Ruthizer Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/concomm Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Orgad, Liav and Ruthizer, Theodore, "Race, Religion and Nationality in Immigration Selection: 120 Years After the Chinese Exclusion Case" (2010). Constitutional Commentary. 635. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/concomm/635 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Minnesota Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Constitutional Commentary collection by an authorized administrator of the Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Article RACE, RELIGION AND NATIONALITY IN IMMIGRATION SELECTION: 120 YEARS AFTER THE CHINESE EXCLUSION CASE Liav Orgad* Theodore Ruthizer** INTRODUCTION 120 years ago, in May 1889, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "the power of exclusion of foreigners being an incident of sovereignty ... cannot be granted away or restrained. "1 Sixty years later, in January 1950, at the height of the Cold War, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed the plenary power doctrine by holding that "it is not within the province of any court, unless expressly authorized by law, to review the determination of the political branch of the Government to exclude a given alien."2 Another sixty years have passed and more recently, in February 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held that "a nation-state has the inherent right to exclude or admit foreigners * Radzyner School of Law.
    [Show full text]
  • RACIAL EQUALITY BILL: JAPANESE PROPOSAL at PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE: DIPLOMATIC MANOEUVRES; and REASONS for REJECTION by Shizuka
    RACIAL EQUALITY BILL: JAPANESE PROPOSAL AT PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE: DIPLOMATIC MANOEUVRES; AND REASONS FOR REJECTION By Shizuka Imamoto B.A. (Hiroshima Jogakuin University, Japan), Graduate Diploma in Language Teaching (University of Technology Sydney, Australia) A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts (Honours) at Macquarie University. Japanese Studies, Department of Asian Languages, Division of Humanities, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney Australia. 2006 DECLARATION I declare that the present research work embodied in the thesis entitled, Racial Equality Bill: Japanese Proposal At Paris Peace Conference: Diplomatic Manoeuvres; And Reasons For Rejection was carried out by the author at Macquarie Japanese Studies Centre of Macquarie University of Sydney, Australia during the period February 2003 to February 2006. This work has not been submitted for a higher degree to any other university or institution. Any published and unpublished materials of other writers and researchers have been given full acknowledgement in the text. Shizuka Imamoto ii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii SUMMARY ix DEDICATION x ACKNOWLEDGEMENT xi INTRODUCTION 1 1. Area Of Study 1 2. Theme, Principal Question, And Objective Of Research 5 3. Methodology For Research 5 4. Preview Of The Results Presented In The Thesis 6 End Notes 9 CHAPTER ONE ANGLO-JAPANESE RELATIONS AND WORLD WAR ONE 11 Section One: Anglo-Japanese Alliance 12 1. Role Of Favourable Public Opinion In Britain And Japan 13 2. Background Of Anglo-Japanese Alliance 15 3. Negotiations And Signing Of Anglo-Japanese Alliance 16 4. Second Anglo-Japanese Alliance 17 5. Third Anglo-Japanese Alliance 18 Section Two: Japan’s Involvement In World War One 19 1.
    [Show full text]
  • A Partial Historical Timeline of Slavery and Structural Racism in Amherst
    A PARTIAL HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF SLAVERY AND STRUCTURAL RACISM IN AMHERST An appendix in support of A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE TOWN OF AMHERST’S COMMITMENT TO END STRUCTURAL RACISM AND ACHIEVE RACIAL EQUITY ____________________________________________________________________________ AUTHORING STATEMENT This timeline represents only a small sampling of Amherst’s history of white supremacy, anti-Black racism, and racial inequity. It was compiled by Reparations for Amherst, with research by Amherst resident Mattea Kramer. Cynthia Harbeson, Jones Library Special Collections, and Aaron Rubinstein, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts, provided research assistance. This document was created in order to prepare and present evidence and factual information related to historic and contemporary instances where the Town of Amherst might have facilitated, participated, stood neutral, or enacted acts of segregative and discriminatory practices in all aspects of engagement with the Amherst Black community. The intention of this report is to compile, in one cohesive document, published facts from various works, studys, surveys, articles, recordings, policies, and resources that are freely available for public consumption. The authors have worked to compile this information and have cited materials in order to assist others in locating the document’s sources. This report is in progress and will have periodical updates when new information presents itself. VERSION UPDATES October7, 2020 Start date November 6, 2020 Review
    [Show full text]
  • When Is a Country Multinational? Problems with Statistical and Subjective Approaches
    Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2011 When is a country multinational? Problems with statistical and subjective approaches Stojanovic, N Abstract: Many authors have argued that we should make a clear conceptual distinction between monona- tional and multinational states. Yet the number of empirical examples they refer to is rather limited. France or Germany are usually seen as mononational, whereas Belgium, Canada, Spain and the UK are considered multinational. How should we classify other cases? Here we can distinguish between (at least) two approaches in the literature: statistical (i.e., whether significant national minorities live within a larger state and, especially, whether they claim self-government) and subjective (i.e., when citizens feel allegiance to sub-state national identities). Neither of them, however, helps us to resolve the problem. Is Italy multinational (because it contains a German-speaking minority)? Is Germany really mononational (in spite of the official recognition of the Danes and the Sorbs in some Länder)? On the otherhand, is Switzerland the “most multinational country” (Kymlicka)? Let us assume that there is no definite answer to this dilemma and that it is all a matter of degree. There are probably few (if any) clearly mononational states and few (if any) clearly multinational states. Should we abandon this distinction in favour of other concepts like “plurinationalism” (Keating), “nations-within-nations” (Miller), “post- national state” (Abizadeh, Habermas), or “post-sovereign state” (MacCormick)? The article discusses these issues and, in conclusion, addresses the problem of stability and shared identity “plural” societies.
    [Show full text]
  • Portuguese Nationality Act Law 37/81, of 3 October Consolidated Version, As Amended by Organic Law 2/2006, of 17 April
    Portuguese Nationality Act Law 37/81, of 3 October Consolidated version, as amended by Organic Law 2/2006, of 17 April TITLE I Attribution, acquisition and loss of nationality CHAPTER I Attribution of nationality Article 1 Nationality by origin 1 –Portuguese by origin are: a) The children of a Portuguese mother or father born in Portuguese territory; b) The children of a Portuguese mother or father born abroad if the Portuguese parent is there serving the Portuguese State; c) The children of a Portuguese mother or father born abroad if they have their birth registered at the Portuguese civil registry or if they declare that they want to be Portuguese; d) The persons born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents if at least one of the parents was also born in Portugal and resides here, irrespective of title, at the time of birth; e) The persons born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents who are not serving their respective State, if they declare that they want to be Portuguese and provided that one of the parents has legally resided in Portugal for at least five years at the time of birth; f) The persons born in Portuguese territory who do not possess another nationality. 2 – Save proof to the contrary, the newly-born infants found abandoned in Portugal are presumed to have been born in Portuguese territory. CHAPTER II Acquisition of nationality SECTION I Acquisition of nationality by act of will Article 2 Acquisition by minors or disabled children Minors or disabled children one of whose parents acquires Portuguese nationality may also acquire it by means of a declaration.
    [Show full text]
  • Complementary International Standards First Session Geneva, 11-22 February 2008
    UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/AC.1/1/CRP.4 18 February 2008 Original: ENGLISH ONLY HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary International Standards First session Geneva, 11-22 February 2008 COMPLEMENTARY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS COMPILATION OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STUDY BY THE FIVE EXPERTS ON THE CONTENT AND SCOPE OF SUBSTANTIVE GAPS IN THE EXISTING INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS TO COMBAT RACISM RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE A/HRC/AC.1/1/CRP.4 Page 2 I. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CONTENT AND SCOPE OF SUBSTANTIVE GAPS ON COMPLEMENTARY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS WITH REGARD TO POSITIVE OBLIGATIONS OF STATES PARTIES Assessment and recommendations 1. The role of human rights education 29. The DDPA underlines the importance of human rights education as a key to changing attitudes and behaviour and to promoting tolerance and respect for diversity in societies1 and, therefore as crucial in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.2 The importance of human rights education is also underlined in several other human rights documents. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action assert that “human rights education, training and public information are essential for the promotion and achievement of stable and harmonious relations among communities and for fostering mutual understanding, tolerance and peace.”3 The World Programme for Human Rights Education identifies the promotion of understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among all nations, indigenous peoples and racial, national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups as one of the constitutive elements of human rights education that aims at building a universal culture of human rights.4 The 2005 World Summit Outcome calls for the implementation of the World Programme for Human Rights Education and encourages all States to develop initiatives in this regard.5 30.
    [Show full text]
  • ECRI Annual Report 2019
    Photos: Shutterstock @ECRI_CoE www.coe.int/ecri Strasbourg, March 2020 Preface ............................................................................5 Main trends ......................................................................7 ECRI's activities in 2019 ................................................ 16 1. Country-by-country approach .............................. 16 2. Work on general themes ..................................... 18 3. Relations with civil society .................................. 18 4. ECRI’s 25th Anniversary High-level Conference . 20 5. Cooperation with equality bodies to combat racism and racial discrimination ............................................ 22 6. Other activities .................................................... 22 7. Communication strategy ..................................... 23 Co-operation with relevant bodies of the Council of Europe and other international organisations ................ 25 Appendix I – Membership of ECRI ................................. 31 Appendix II – Secretariat of ECRI .................................. 39 Appendix III - Meetings held by ECRI in 2019 .............. 41 Appendix IV - List of publications ................................... 43 3 Preface The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) is a mechanism which was established by the first Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe member states. The decision to establish ECRI is contained in the Vienna Declaration adopted by the first Summit on 9 October 1993. On
    [Show full text]
  • Promoting and Protecting Minority Rights a Guide for Advocates
    Promoting and Protecting Minority Rights A Guide for Advocates Designed and printed by the Publishing Service, United Nations publications United Nations, Geneva — GE.13-40538 Sales No. E.13.XIV.1 July 2013 — 3,452 — HR/PUB/12/7 ISBN 978-92-1-154197-7 Promoting and Protecting Minority Rights A Guide for Advocates Geneva and New York, 2012 ii PROMOTING AND PROTECTING MINORITY RIGHTS Note The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. * * * Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a figure indicates a reference to a United Nations document. HR/PUB/12/7 Sales No. E.13.XIV.1 ISBN 978-92-1-154197-7 eISBN 978-92-1-056280-5 © 2012 United Nations All worldwide rights reserved Minority rights focus in the United Nations iii Foreword I am delighted that this publication, Promoting and Protecting Minority Rights: A Guide for Minority Rights Advocates, comes before you as we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. This anniversary gives us the opportunity to look back on the 20 years of promoting the Declaration and use that experience to plan and strategize for the future, to decide how best to bring this Declaration further to the fore of human rights discussions taking place all over the world and discuss its implementation.
    [Show full text]