United Nations Commission on Human Rights 56th Session, 27 March 2000

27 March 2000

Chair,

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) works to secure rights for ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities worldwide, and to promote cooperation between communities.

A key development issue is to eradicate poverty, prevent violent conflicts and ensure that minorities can participate in economic development.

We believe that States should consider appropriate measures so that persons belonging to minorities may participate fully in economic progress and development in their country. This statement was also supported by the United Nations General Assembly, when it adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of…..minorities in 1992.

The High Commissioner reminded us at the beginning of this Human Rights Commission that racism, discrimination and xenophobia were to be found at the root of most of the world's conflicts. The subject was especially relevant in light of the resurgence of old ethnic, racial and nationalist antagonisms. The High Commissioner also indicated that, the forthcoming World Conference against Racism should explore how the inclusion of minorities can be promoted.

In 1995 MRG hosted a highly successful international workshop in Nepal on minority rights and development. We brought together delegates from 22 countries and from a range of governments, Non-governmental organizations and minority communities.

The broad consensus of the meeting was that development as conventionally practised by international and state actors often fails to consider the concerns and priorities of minority communities. Indeed, this form of development often violates their rights that are protected under international standards. This reinforces evidence in recent MRG Reports, such as our report on Afro-Brazilians and similar important research by Claire Nelson of the Inter America Bank.

A key method to increase inclusion of minorities is to bridge the gap between them and their governments, using community groups, civil society organisations and local government. However, it is not only States that can support such inclusion, but also international development organizations.

The World Bank, for example, is in a strong position to research the economic costs of exclusion and the benefits of inclusion. Such research should be used to reinforce the Bank’s growing awareness of the interrelationship of social and economic factors as evidenced in their approach to the Comprehensive Development Framework, the Poverty Report and the use of social assessments.

MRG has launched a programme that begins to address some of these development issues. The work has three components:

1. micro level studies which focus on one issue within one minority community;
2. macro level studies which examine the development issues faced by a country from the standpoint of the key minorities within that territory,
3. and international advocacy (mainstreaming).

We are eager to share our experience with all those concerned about minorities and development, and find practical ways forward.

In particular, MRG recommends that:

States support the development of minority community groups, NGOs and other forms of minority representation;

The World Bank undertakes research on the economic cost of exclusion and the benefits of inclusion; and that

The World Conference Against Racism also considers the economic cost of exclusion and the benefits of inclusion.

Thank you Chair.

* Prepared for and distributed at UN Commission on Human Rights but not delivered under Item 7 due to Agenda overrun.