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Conflict prevention and the protection of the human rights of minorities

The main purpose of the European Regional Forum on “Conflict prevention and the protection of the human rights of minorities” is to provide regional insights, which will feed into the thematic work of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues for his report to the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council in March 2022. Furthermore, discussions will inform the work and recommendations of the 14th session of the Forum on Minority Issues, which will take place in Geneva in December 2021.

Specific objectives include:

  1. Develop mutual understanding about the role of the protection of the human rights of minorities in preventing conflicts.
  2. Discuss legal, institutional and policy challenges to the recognition and implementation of the human rights of minorities to address long-standing grievances that may lead to tensions and possible conflicts.
  3. Identify why the root-causes of most conflicts, the denial of the human rights of minorities and their aspirations, are seldom acknowledged or addressed.
  4. Strengthen partnerships among various stakeholders and build capacity to address the root-causes of contemporary conflicts and more effectively prevent conflicts.

There is a broad global consensus that addressing inequalities and making institutions more inclusive are central to addressing the root causes of conflicts.  Most conflicts are characterized by the insufficient inclusion of minorities. Given that this is often coupled with disregard for their identities and grievances, as well as with a denial of their human rights, the main challenge now is to better understand what this means in practice.

Since 2010, the number of major violent conflicts has tripled globally, and much of the increase is in the rise of intrastate conflicts, usually involving minorities. “There are now more violent conflicts globally than at any time in the past 30 years, and the world is also facing the largest forced displacement crisis ever recorded”[1]

Peace, stability and justice – in other words preventing violent conflicts – require addressing the core grievances of minorities associated with their exclusion, discriminatory practices in matters of participation in public life and other areas, accommodating their cultures, religions or beliefs, and languages, as well as other breaches of their human rights of significance to protect their existence and identities. The exclusion of and discrimination against minorities rather than ensuring their inclusion and protection in society through the implementation of their human rights, are the main root-causes of most contemporary conflicts. 

Preventing conflicts requires addressing these failures in implementation. Guaranteeing the protection of the human rights of minorities, and ensuring their implementation before grievances have the chance to fester increases the chances that a conflict might not occur. These are the pathways to respect the dignity and equality of all persons to achieve justice, peace and stability as foreseen in the Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and emergence of the international human rights system after the Second World War. The pathways for peace and conflict prevention are therefore to be found in the proper understanding and implementation of the human rights of minorities. 

The full concept note for the 2021 Regional Fora is available at the bottom of the website.   

Areas of Discussion 
 

In light of the main objectives of the regional forum, the discussions will address the following overarching themes. These will be informed by the framework of international human rights law and standards: 

  1. Substantive root causes of contemporary conflicts involving minorities
  2. Normative framework: the human rights of minorities and conflict prevention
  3. Obstacles to implementing the rights of minorities and early effective conflict prevention
  4. Ways forward towards addressing gaps in human rights mechanisms to protect minorities and prevent conflicts
A gender perspective will be applied to all areas of discussion to address the often ‘double’ marginalisation or targeting of minority women and girls in the context of violent conflict.

 

Outputs 
 
Based on the discussions and the contributions of the participants, the main output produced from the regional forum will be a document with practical recommendations reflective of regional contexts and challenges.
 
Format
 
The format of the regional forum will consist of an opening plenary session followed by thematic panels, which will address each thematic issue in greater detail. The aim of these discussions will be to develop a set of recommendations.
 
Participation 
 

The European Regional Forum shall be open to the participation of states; intergovernmental organizations including United Nations agencies and mechanisms; national human rights institutions and other relevant national bodies; academics and experts on minority issues; representatives of minorities as well as civil society organizations specializing in minority issues. 

Participation is open to individuals involved in minority issues in the European-Central Asia region (see list of eligible countries at the bottom of the website) and with a clear focus and expertise on conflict prevention and minorities. 

All individual participants must register online here.  

Registration will close at 11pm CEST, Wednesday 6th October 2021.

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French, Russian and Romani 

The Regional Forum will be livestreamed on YouTube.   The link to view the livestream is here.  

 
              

Details

Start: October 12, 2021
9:00 AM (UTC/GMT +01:00 - Europe / Budapest)
End: October 13, 2021
4:00 PM (UTC/GMT +01:00 - Europe / Budapest)
UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Tom Lantos Institute

Related files

  • concept-note-regional-forums-2021-final.pdf
  • concept-note-regional-forums-2021-final-french.pdf
  • call-eng.pdf
  • call-fr.pdf
  • Концептуальная записка-региональные-форумы.pdf
  • Call_RUS-1.pdf
  • Call_Romani.pdf
  • Outline Program of Work_Romani.pdf
  • List of Eligible States_EUROPE РУС.pdf
  • List of Eligible States_EUROPE.pdf
  • List of Eligible States_EUROPE_fra.pdf

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