[MRG e-bulletin] Minority Rights Group International - e-bulletin

Wed Feb 2 17:16:45 GMT 2005

Minority Rights Group International - e-bulletin 

Welcome to the minority Rights Group International (MRG) email bulletin. Simply click on the links below in order to access the full news story or publication on MRG's website, or alternatively visit our site at: http://www.minorityrights.org

In this e-bulletin: 

	*	Minority rights crucial to calm communal tensions in post-election Iraq
	*	UN genocide commemoration must be through action as well as words 
	*	India's Dalits refused access to tsunami relief
	*	Expert panel rises to Annan's challenge to create a more effective UN
	*	African Commission urged to toughen stance on state non-compliance
	*	Optimism and outrage mark end of indigenous decade
	*	2005 - a new year of discrimination against Roma in Europe
	*	Tribute to Martin Emerson
	*	Focus on: Holocaust Memorial Day
	*	Events and Advocacy: MRG launches gender report at UN in New York
	*	Worth a closer look: UN Official Document System available online
	*	Publications - Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: A Guide for Minorities and Indigenous Peoples      

News 

Minority Rights crucial to calm communal tensions in post-election Iraq 
Despite the possibility of a poor election turn-out by minorities including Sunni Arabs, a new Iraqi government must guarantee minority rights and minority representation to protect against further communal conflict. MRG warns that without such guarantees, a serious upsurge in violence could follow the 30 January elections. 'Unrepresentative government that pays little attention to minority concerns will only cause religious and political tensions to flare', stated MRG. 
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=340

UN genocide commemoration must be through action as well as words 
At a time of global remembrance for the victims of the Nazi holocaust, 60 years on, another genocide may still be in progress in Darfur, Sudan. The United Nations (UN)  announced a special session of the General Assembly on 24 January to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps. MRG called for this event to commemorate genocide victims through action, by including a full working session of the General Assembly with the aim of demanding effective measures to halt continuing atrocities committed against black Africans in Darfur.
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=330

India's Dalits refused access to tsunami relief 
Dalit communities in tsunami devastated coastal regions of southern India are facing exclusion from relief efforts due to caste discrimination which continues even in the face of massive and indiscriminate natural disaster. Shocking reports of the neglect of Dalit families and apathy with regard to their plight by government officials and other communities were described by MRG as 'wholly unacceptable' in a region where day to day caste discrimination remains widespread and often goes unchallenged.   
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=327

Expert panel rises to Annan's challenge to create a 'more effective' UN 
A new UN commissioned report on threats to international peace and security has been welcomed as a useful first step towards a more effective UN and a culture of conflict prevention within the institution. The expert report recommends root and branch change to the UN and its mechanisms to help it face global peace and security challenges and address divisions between Member States that have left it wanting. Yet according to MRG, the report still falls short in its consideration of the crucial role of minority rights protection in conflict prevention strategies.
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=329

African Commission urged to toughen stance on state non-compliance 
MRG has raised its concerns at the 36th Session of the African Commission in Banjul, regarding the poor situation of state compliance with Commission recommendations and urgent action directives. The rights group congratulated the Commission's vision and foresight in a number of extremely progressive decisions in favour of some of Africa's most vulnerable communities. However it criticised states including Nigeria and Kenya for failing to implement such decisions, in clear contravention of their obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=342

Optimism and outrage mark end of Indigenous decade 
Progress towards a draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been hampered by disagreement and uncertainty following an additional session of the drafting Working Group, which concluded on 3 December. The Chair of the Working Group expressed optimism and indicated a growing consensus between states and indigenous delegations. Such optimism was markedly absent amongst some indigenous peoples who expressed outrage at the process and began a hunger strike in protest against attempts by some states to 'weaken and undermine' the Draft Declaration.
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=328 

2005 - a new year of discrimination against Roma in Europe 
MRG has highlighted its serious concern at the continuing high level of incidents of discrimination and violence against Roma communities in Europe and apparent lack of progress of measures to address a 'Europe-wide epidemic' of discrimination. Reports have demonstrated examples of the murder of Roma by police, destruction of Roma houses, extreme racism against Roma in school text-books and discriminatory policies to prevent Roma from travelling legally and entering countries including the UK.
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=334

Tribute to Martin Emerson 
Martin Emerson led MRG's work with the Roma for eight years. The success of our programmes during this period owes a huge amount to his experience, insights and dedication. Martin made sure that MRG worked with emerging Roma organizations to build their capacity to represent their own communities. Martin introduced the idea of mentoring to MRG and developed and ran 3 successful programmes for young Roma activists based on a mentoring methodology. There is no doubt that because of his personal intervention, because of the ideas that he had and the programmes that he designed and led, the lives of literally hundreds of young Roma in Eastern Europe were improved and transformed. Because other organizations are copying the mentoring approach that he introduced, thousands of other young disadvantaged people are benefiting from the example that he set and the methods that he developed. Martin died from cancer in November 2004. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=343

Focus on: Holocaust Memorial Day

On the occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January 2005, Minority Rights Group International remembers and pays tribute to those who died in the Holocaust from all communities. MRG calls upon all states and individuals to be ever vigilant against racism, discrimination and oppression, to give true meaning to the words 'never again'. 

First they came for the Jews, 
and I did not speak out - 
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the  communists, 
and I did not speak out - 
because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I did not speak out - 
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left 
to speak out for me.

Pastor Neimoeller (victim of the Nazis)

http://www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk

Events and Advocacy

New York launch of MRG report 'Gender, Minorities and Indigenous Peoples' 
On 12 January MRG launched its report 'Gender, Minorities and Indigenous Peoples', at UN headquarters in New York, highlighting multiple forms of discrimination affecting minority and indigenous women. The event coincided with the 32nd session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and aimed to highlight the need for it to address such issues more effectively in its work. Speakers included the authors, minority and indigenous representatives and a member of CEDAW.  An expert audience included committee members, government representatives, UN staff and NGOs. A summary report is available at:
http://www.minorityrights.org/International/int_stat_detail.asp?ID=92

For further information about the events above and details of many additional MRG programmes and advocacy activities, please visit MRG's website or contact us directly.
http://www.minorityrights.org

Vacancies 

MRG strives to be an equal opportunities employer. MRG occasionally has opportunities for internships and voluntary work and those interested in applying for such positions should initially contact MRG with a brief curriculum vitae (resume) and covering letter.
http://www.minorityrights.org/job_vac.asp 

Worth a closer look 

UN Official Document System now publicly available online 
The UN's Official Document System offering a vast repository of official documentation - including over 800,000 reports, resolutions and summaries of the meetings of the main UN bodies - is now freely and publicly available online. The ODS is a tremendous resource for civil society groups around the world, as well as for students, researchers and activists. 
http://documents.un.org 

Information contained in external websites does not necessarily reflect the views, policies or opinions of MRG and its staff.

Events for your diary 

World Economic Forum - 26 - 30 January 2005, Davos, Switzerland
http://www.weforum.org

World Social Forum - 26 - 31 January 2005, Porto Alegre, Brazil
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/home.asp

Commission of Social Development - 9 - 18 February 2005, (Copenhagen+10), New York
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/csocd2005.htm

World Summit on the Information Society - Prepcom 11 - 17-25 February 2005, Palais des Nations, Geneva
http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html

Commission on the Status of Women - 28 February - 11 March 2005, (Beijing+10), New York
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw

CERD Thematic Discussion on the Prevention of Genocide - 28 February - 1 March 2005, Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=341

Publications 

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: A Guide for Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Edited by Margot E. Salomon (advance notice)

In recent years, increased attention has been given to economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights internationally and, to a certain degree, domestically. However not enough has been done to consider fully and systematically the economic, social and cultural rights of minorities and indigenous peoples. This guide aims to bridge this gap. It provides an overview of ESC rights and how these can be applied to minorities and indigenous peoples. The guide provides practical information and advice about the best ways to advocate for securing ESC rights. The chapters cover the rights to food and to water, housing rights, health rights, education rights, labour rights and cultural rights and describe the legal standards, the various enforcement mechanisms, and guidelines for successful civil society advocacy. Available on MRG's website from 16 February
http://www.minorityrights.org/MRGPublications.asp

MRG welcomes your comments on this e-bulletin and our work in general, and greatly values your opinions and information. We hope that you will find this e-bulletin useful, however, it is not our intention to send you unwanted messages. If you wish us to remove you from this list, simply send an email to graham.fox at mrgmail.org stating 'un-subscribe' in the subject line.  

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a non-governmental organization working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide, and to promote cooperation and understanding between communities. 

MRG is a registered charity no. 282305, and has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and observer status with the African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights.

Contact MRG: 
54 Commercial Street, London, E1 6LT, UK. 
Tel: 020 7422 4200      Fax: 020 7422 4201 
email:  minority.rights at mrgmail.org 
http://www.minorityrights.org 

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