Useful publications for minorities

Minority Rights Advocacy in the European Union: A Guide for NGOs in South East Europe by Snježana Bokulić with Florian Bieber, Anna-Mária Bíró and Emelyne Cheney (2006)

This is a comprehensive guide for minority and human rights activists from SEE on how to advocate successfully for the inclusion of minority issues in their country’s EU accession process and improved protection of minority rights. It includes an overview of the structure and processes of the EU, describes EU policy and the nature of its engagement in SEE and details the EU standards and mechanisms for minority protection. The guide also describes advocacy opportunities available for minority rights campaigners and offers practical advocacy tools.

Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: Opportunities for NGOs and Minorities by Magdalena Syposz (2006)

This is a guide to how the FCNM and the Council of Europe work and how minorities can use them to protect and promote their rights. It enables NGOs to identify whether the FCNM is the right mechanism to use for them. It describes the best ways to prepare reports for Council and what action NGOs and minorities can expect if they use these methods.

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: A Guide for Minorities and Indigenous Peoples edited by Margot E Salomon (2005)

This is a guide for minority rights activists and those they work with. It provides an overview of ESC rights and how these can be applied to minorities and indigenous peoples. Each chapter has been written by an expert on a particular right, who provides practical information and advice about the best ways to advocate for securing ESC rights. The chapters cover the rights to food and water, housing, health, education, labour and culture and describe the legal standards, enforcement mechanisms, and guidelines for successful civil society advocacy.

Participation in Economic Life: An Advocacy Guide to Minorities in South-East Europe by Tara Bedard (2005)

A thorough overview of the rights and mechanisms relevant to minorities for participation in economic life in South East Europe. It Includes best practice examples and lessons learned by individuals and organisations working to enhance economic participation for minorities in the region.

Minority Rights: A Guide to United Nations Procedures and Institutions by Gudmunder Alfredsson and Erika Ferrer as updated and revised by Kathryn Ramsay (2004)

This guide explains the mechanisms, procedures and institutions of the United Naitons. It shows how minorities and minority based non-governmental organizations can use the UN to promote respect for minority rights. It offers practical advice and step by step guidance to working with the UN. Beginning with how to identify the best entry points for minority issues, the guide goes on to explain how to provide information, follow up cases and lobby for issues in the most effective way.

The International Labour Organization: A Handbook for Minorities and Indigenous Peoples by Chandra Roy and Mike Kaye (2002)

An insider’s view of how the International Labour Organisation works. It explains how the ILO can be used by non-governmental organisations and others to promote and protect minority and indigenous people’s rights. It offers practical advice and case studies as well as step-by-step guidance on working with the ILO, how to influence its agenda, and who to work with bodies such as trade unions to further minority and indigenous people’s concerns.