[MRG e-bulletin] MRG- e-bulletin November 2005- February 2006

Fri Feb 24 18:29:53 GMT 2006

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: 

*	News releases including: 
*	Vital steps ahead for Iraq's 'flawed' constitution
*	MRG launches inaugural 'State of the World's Minorities' report
*	Bosnian Constitution must incorporate minority rights to heal ethnic divisions
	*	French unrest - minority rights solutions required to tackle the reality of racism
*	Colombia must investigate disappearance and murder of Afro-descendant activist
*	'Powerful obstacles' continue to hinder indigenous rights, states UN expert
*	Focus on: Peoples under threat 2006
*	Vacancies: Update
*	Publications including:  
*	The Permanent Constitution of Iraq: Inter-religious and Inter-ethnic Perspectives

News

Baskin Oran on Trial; Freedom of Expression threatened in EU hopeful Turkey 
(15/02/05) Professor Baskin Oran, an International Relations scholar from the University of Ankara, will go on trial in Turkey charged with 'insulting Turkishness' and 'inciting the people to enmity and hatred'. Professor Oran is a member of Turkey's Human Rights Consultative Council (HRCC), part of the Office of the Prime Minister that was set up to help meet levels of participatory democracy required for EU accession. He was accused after issuing a report on Human and Minority Rights. 
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=398> 

''Integration not assimilation and responsible free speech only ways to prevent culture clash  
Minority Rights Group International expressed concerns today (Friday Feb 10 2005) that simplistic portrayals of a culture clash, following widespread dispute over cartoons of the prophet Muhammad is ignoring central issues relating to integration of minorities and protection of Muslim minorities within Europe.
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=397> 

Holocaust Memorial Day UK: Minority Rights Group International urges new approach to preventing genocide and mass killings 
Leading rights group says international community must refocus on "crimes of state" and strengthen UN mechanisms for protection of ethnic and religious minorities in order to prevent future genocides .61 years to the day after the liberation of Auschwitz, Minority Rights Group International say promises of 'never again' must be met by states willingness to push through the full force of UN reform agreed at September's UN Summit. 
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=395> 

Iraqis head new list of peoples under threat
New York, (19/1/2006) Iraqis head a new list of peoples most under threat from persecution, discrimination and mass killing according to a comprehensive new report released today by Minority Rights Group International (MRG). Minorities from Sudan, Somalia and other African countries dominate the rest of the top 15 in State of the World's Minorities, the first ever report to comprehensively assess the situation faced by minorities all over the world. 
The report details how states in every world region repress the rights of their minorities, or even deny their existence, and finds that in three quarters of the world's armed conflicts violence was targeted at specific religious or ethnic groups. 
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=394> 

Ethnic and sectarian divisions increase as Iraq goes to the polls 
A flawed constitutional process has exacerbated divisions between Iraq's different ethnic and religious groups says a new report published today by Minority Rights Group International (MRG), as Iraqis go to the polls. The Constitution of Iraq: Religious and Ethnic Relations describes how drafters of the constitution were segmented along ethnic, religious and communal lines, heightening the contest between groups over the redistribution of political power and economic resources. The current elections, which it is hoped will be a major step towards democracy in Iraq, are being contested by leading parties whose sectarian base is now more pronounced. 
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=391>

Critical high court hearing may decide fate of Chagos Islanders 
A High Court hearing beginning tomorrow, 6 December 2005, could decide the fate of the Chagos islanders, the community removed from their homeland by British authorities so the United States could build a military base. The islanders, some of whom have travelled from Mauritius, will be organising a demonstration outside the Royal Courts of Justice at 09:30 to highlight their case. 
The islanders are challenging the British government's declaration last year that they had no right to live in their island homeland. The initial removal from their homes was declared unlawful in a landmark High Court victory in 2000, leading the government to promise they could return to at least some of the islands. However the government stalled on even allowing visits, and in 2004, using a power described as a little-used colonial relic, it declared the islanders had no right to live in their homeland.
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=390> 

Bosnia: Constitution must incorporate minority rights to dismantle ethnic divisions
A new Bosnian constitution must firmly establish minority rights and dismantle a discriminatory electoral system that enhances ethnic divisions. MRG stated that such an undertaking is key to healing entrenched divisions and fostering a pluralist society where all existing minorities are able to fully participate in public life. Current negotiations over the new constitution coincide with the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement. MRG suggests that the greatest prospects for stability and confidence building amongst all ethnic groups lie in effective implementation of minority rights. 
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=388>

French unrest - minority rights solutions required to tackle the reality of racism 
Acts violence taking place across France in recent days must be acknowledged not only as criminal acta, but as a demonstration of long-term minority neglect, social exclusion, and the need to promote and protect minority rights. According to MRG, France's assimilationist policy of minority denial, while founded on a desire for 'colour blind' equality, fails to address the reality of widespread discrimination, racism and exclusion, and must be reconsidered. MRG suggests that the violence that has shocked France and other European states demonstrates the need for progressive policies of social reform that acknowledge inherent inequality.
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=387>

Colombia must investigate disappearance and murder of Afro-descendant activist 
The Colombian government should urgently investigate the murder of an Afro-Colombian human rights and peace worker in the north-west of the country, and demonstrate its commitment to ceasing illegal paramilitary activities. International human rights bodies, including those of the UN and Organization of American States (OAS), should also use all available diplomatic and legal measures to help to halt the escalation of atrocities and harassment against the Afro-Colombian community. 
http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=384

'Powerful obstacles' continue to hinder indigenous rights, states UN expert 
Indigenous peoples continue to routinely face grave human rights violations, which in some cases are threatening their physical and cultural survival. The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, has warned of the 'growing gap' between legislation and the day-to-day situations faced by indigenous peoples in a report to the UN General Assembly. Mr Stavenhagen particularly addressed the severe plight of indigenous women and children, describing violations as 'widespread' and 'harrowing'.
<http://www.minorityrights.org/news_detail.asp?ID=385> 

Focus on: Peoples under threat 2006

The State of the World's Minorities - Peoples under threat 2006
Minority Rights Group International has used advances in political science to identify, based on current indicators from authoritative sources, those groups or peoples most under threat at the beginning of 2006. The overall measure is based on a basket of ten indicators, all relating to 2005. These include indicators of democracy or good governance from the World Bank, conflict indicators from the Center for International Development and Conflict Management, indicators of group division or elite factionalization from the Fund for Peace and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the State Failure Task Force data on prior genocides and politicides, and the OECD country credit risk classification (as a proxy for trade openness). The report has a strong thematic focus on the war on terror and its impact upon  the rights and freedoms of minorities in the north and south as well as situation of ethnic and sectarian tensions in post war Iraq. 

State of the World's Minorities features a comprehensive list of peoples under threat ranked accroding to the indicators described above.The report is prefaced by UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Dr Juan Méndez and is available to download from <http://www.minorityrights.org/Bookshop.asp> in the legal section .

Also see the news section piece 'Iraqis head new list of peoples under threat' for more information on the launch of the report at the UN. Various media gave the report coverage. For more information please contact Ilana - temporary media officer at MRG- for links to reports/comment pieces. Ilana.rapaport at mrgmail.org 

State of the World's Minorities reporting may be produced annually to allow MRG to promote advocacy asks around global trends regarding minority rights and the treatment of minorities. More information on this will be made available via future e-bulletins.

Vacancies

There will be various vacancies coming up at MRG- in communications and programmes. Please visit the MRG website for details. Posts will go up on the recruitment section as soon as they are finalised. 

Publications

The Permanent Constitution of Iraq: Inter-religious and Inter-ethnic Perspectives 
Constitution-writing has offered a unique opportunity to determine the structure of the Iraqi state, and to develop a unified vision to facilitate peace and stability for all groups in Iraq. On 15 October 2005, following a relatively high turnout, the Constitution was endorsed by 78 per cent of votes. The massive rejection from the Sunni provinces showed a failure to reach a nationwide consensus, but some willingness to engage with the political process. The new permanent Constitution of Iraq is the first since 1924 to result from an elected constituent assembly and national referendum. The process also marks a turning point in Iraq's beleaguered transition from authoritarian-centralized rule and subsequent mayhem towards constitutional representative government and the retrieval of Iraq's sovereignty. Download via our online book shop at <http://www.minorityrights.org/MRGPublications.asp> 

Macedonia Micro: Policies for Improvement of the employment of Roma in Macedonia
Around two per cent of Macedonia's 2 million people are Roma (around 54,000) and Roma are by far the poorest population with chronic levels of unemployment. Roma are grossly under-represented in both the private and the public sectors in spite of the Frame Work Agreement (developed by the Working Group for Minority Issues and drawn at the end of conflict in Macedonia in 2001) The report highlights the major challenges faced by Macedonian Roma in accessing the employment markets and shows how the lack of consultation with Roma is limiting government initiatives to promote their inclusion. The Micro indicates that In Macedonia, severe underemployment of Roma is driven by poor education and social exclusion as well as a lack of appropriate access to government and NGO employment programmes. <http://www.minorityrights.org/MRGPublications.asp>

Croatia Micro: Challenges for Sustainable Return of Ethnic Serb Refugees
The disintegration of former Yugoslavia and the establishment of independent Croatia resulted din increasing tensions between the Croat majority and the ethnic Serb minority. This led to armed conflict in which 950,000 people were displaced within and outside Croatia in 1991-1997. While the return of displaced Croats is almost complete the return and (re)integration of Serbs remains unresolved. This study focuses on two critical factors inhibiting sustainable return- access to housing and unemployment- that are particularly acute in urban areas. 
Download via our online book shop at http://www.minorityrights.org/MRGPublications.asp 

Good Governance and Indigenous Peoples in Asia
Governance is at the heart of most development and poverty reduction efforts today including those aimed at the realization of the UN Millenium Development Goals- but it has failed to lift indigenous peoples out of poverty. This report discusses issues of good governance that should be seen in the framework of self-determination. It also discusses the problems faced by indigenous groups in achieving greater inclusion and participation in the decision making process that affects them. 
Download via our online book shop at <http://www.minorityrights.org/MRGPublications.asp> 

Traditional Customary Laws and Indigenous Peoples in Asia
For years, traditional laws- or customary laws - in Asia have been eroded. This report argues that remaining customary laws should be retained and discusses the extent to which their erosion can be reversed. The report includes a discussion on the potential and actual conflict between women's rights and customary rights. 
Download via our online book shop at <http://www.minorityrights.org/MRGPublications.asp> 

State of the World's Minorities: Peoples Under Threat 2006 
See 'focus on' section for a full brief of this publication and details of how to download.

Preventing Genocide and Mass Killing: The Challenge for the United Nations
In this report Professor William. A. Schabas- a foremost expert on the issue of genocide indicators and genocide prevention discusses the changing status of human rights within the UN system. The report argues that if the recommendations  from the United Nations summit 2005 outcomes document ( ratifying UN nations responsibility to protect their citizens from mass violence) are acted upon then significant positive benefits in the UN's ability to prevent genocide and mass killings could result. Download via our online book shop at <http://www.minorityrights.org/MRGPublications.asp> 

ENDS

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>

Ilana Rapaport
Media Officer 
Minority Rights Group International 
54 Commercial Street
London E1 6LT, UK
+44 (0)207 422 4205
+44 (0)7835 108864
www.minorityrights.org 

Working to secure the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide

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