Minorities - Working Group

The Working Group on Minorities, which was established in 1995 pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/31 of 25 July 1995, is a subsidiary organ of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (previously called the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities). The Working Group on Minorities meets in Geneva, once a year, for five working days.

The Working Group aims at being a forum for dialogue. Firstly, to facilitate greater awareness of the differing perspectives on minority issues and, consequently, to seek better understanding and mutual respect among minorities and between minorities and Governments. Secondly, it can act as a mechanism for hearing suggestions and making recommendations for the peaceful and constructive solution to problems involving minorities, through the promotion and protection of their rights.

Nearly all countries in the world have minorities within their population. There are varied experiences regarding minority issues within different countries dependent on specific historical, economic, social, political, geographic and other factors. Despite this reality, common problems affecting minority communities are identifiable.

Often these are related to the existence of structures or systems that have the effect of either perpetuating the marginalisation of minority communities from decision-making or of unfairly benefiting majority populations or dominant groups in the economic, social and political life of the country. An appreciation of these problems has led to recommendations for the protection of the identity of minorities and respect for diversity.

Acceptance of diversity on the part of the majority or dominant groups often requires better understanding about the culture, customs, language and history of minority communities, which in turn has led to the recommendation that inter-cultural and human rights education curricula and programmes be developed. Social, economic and political inequality between communities and groups has also been identified as a root cause of conflict. Equality, social justice and fair representation, as called for under minority rights protection and promotion, are increasingly perceived as a conflict prevention measures.

Thus, discussions and documents adopted in various UN fora support the approach of the Working Group by advocating for the establishment of mechanisms for dialogue and arrangements for participation to address the exclusion and marginalization of minority communities.

In summary, the Working Group is becoming a more important focus for UN activities regarding minority issues and some of the issues discussed in its meetings which may interest its various partners are:

• multicultural and intercultural education
• recognition of the existence of minorities
• participation in public life, including through autonomy and integrative measures
• inclusive development, and
• conflict prevention

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Information

For further information, please contact the Secretariat of the Working Group on Minorities, Tel: 41 22 917 9204/9140, Fax: 41 22 917 9010,
Email: wgminorities@ohchr.org

Additional information on participating in the Working Group is contained in the United Nations Guide for Minorities, Pamphlet No. 2: The UN Working Group on Minorities"