Commission on Human Rights Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights UN Working Group on Minorities 6th Session 22-26 May 2000

22 May 2000

Mr. Chairman,

Before presenting our recommendations regarding the future role of the Working Group, we would like to note with satisfaction that many of our previous recommendations have been taken into account, and most importantly, have been acted upon.

Since last year’s session, two regional seminars were held, one on multi-cultural and inter-cultural education in Canada and the other one on multi-culturalism in Africa which took place in Tanzania. The outcomes of both these regional seminars were a major contribution to the substantial debate taking place in this Working Group. The regional seminar in Africa shows that local participants benefited immensely from this opportunity since they had the chance to receive and share information on issues of major concern to them. As Minority Rights Group has traditionally been supportive of local empowerment of grass roots level minority organisations, we would like to see this success repeated in Africa, Asia and South America. Minority Rights Group is ready to offer our experience and expertise in the organisation of future seminars of this kind.

We are happy to see that the number of governments attending this Working Group has increased. We are also happy that some good practices on national situations have been mentioned. However for the promotion of mutual understanding and dialogue between and among minorities and governments, we believe that governmental representatives should broaden their input into the various issues discussed both on the Working Papers and on the agenda items. The example set by the representative of the Swiss Government is a case in point.

MRG welcomes the establishment of the voluntary contributions, but we would be happy if, within the framework of this Working Group, further information would be shared so that the voluntary contributions can be used by those most in need. In general we believe that the Working Group would benefit from a brief review of progress towards the fulfilment of the recommendations of the previous years sessions, including the adoption of the revised version of your commentary and the manual to be prepared by Mr. Kartashkin.

Minority Rights Group welcomes the rationalisation of the agenda of this Working Group. We believe that the combination of the three mandates with broader thematic issues under the Declaration is a positive step towards rationalising the agenda. Nevertheless the preparation and dissemination of the agenda, well in advance of the Working Group is essential for ensuring meaningful participation of all those concerned. In addition, the Working Papers should also be prepared and submitted well in advance so that their circulation prior to the Working Group may take place. Last year Minority Rights Group together with other NGOs recommended the selection of the topics of the Working Papers in a transparent way so that they reflect the interests of all participants. Discussions along the Working Papers have proved to be an essential contribution to the substance of the agenda. We believe that decisions on the topics of the Working Papers of the future Working Group should be decided upon by the last day of the Working Group. At this point we would like to remind you of some to the suggestions which have been made to date in this session of the Working Group which include issues of autonomy and various forms of autonomies for minorities, land rights and minorities and jurisprudence regarding minorities in regions other than Europe.

We are happy that a website including the materials of the Working Group has been established and feel that the content should include the contributions of NGOs. Much valuable information on minority situations is contained in various interventions, the text of which could be made available upon request.

Under Article 9 of the Declaration, UN specialised agencies shall contribute to the full realisation of the rights and principles as set forth in this Declaration, within their respective fields of competence. Specialised agencies should develop reporting structures which are consistent and regular within their remits so that the Working Group on Minorities can review the application of Article 9. We appreciate the efforts of both the ILO and UNESCO for reporting on their relevant work to the Working Group and we would encourage other agencies to follow this example.

Further to our recommendation to the 1999 Working Group, we feel that expert members of the Working Group should pay visits to countries, based on an equal regional distribution, upon the request of governments or minorities as also happens in the case of the Working Group on Indigenous populations. These visits will also contribute to the identification of examples of good practice. We believe that this could contribute to a constructive inter-community dialogue.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.