HRBA Portal

UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues
The Independent Expert is mandated to promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; to identify best practices and possibilities for technical cooperation at the request of Governments; and apply a gender perspective in his or her work.  See the OHCHR page to view annual reports, country visits, statements and relevant international standards and thematic priorities for the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues.

UN Forum on Minority Issues
Established by the Human Rights Council, the Forum provides a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. In its first four sessions, the Forum focused on the right to education by minorities, effective political participation, effective participation in economic life and the rights of minority women.

Publications by OHCHR Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section
A helpful list of reports, joint reports and notes concerning international law and minorities. Publications include:

• Fact Sheet on Minority Rights (FS 18/Rev.1)
• United Nations Guide for Minorities
• Towards Developing Country Engagement Strategies on Minorities

Human Rights Education Associates (HREA): The Rights of Ethnic and Racial Minorities
The HREA provides information, publications, trainings, and other resources regarding the rights of minorities on their website.

Minority Rights Group International
Minority Rights Group International is an international organization that raises awareness of minority rights issues based on research, publication, and by providing information to the public.

World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples
This online directory of minorities and indigenous peoples, available in database format, provides free information for the use of all those throughout the world with an interest in any aspect of minorities and indigenous peoples, their rights, and their historical, political or geographical context.

Dalit Discrimination Check
This is a tool developed specifically to help companies prevent discrimination and exploitation of Dalits in their Indian operations and suppliers. The tool is designed as a comprehensive checklist consisting of self-guided questions and indicators that highlight possible violations.

Toolkit / International Year for People of African Descent
2011 was the International Year for People of African Descent. This toolkit aims to assist UN staff tackle issues related to the situation of of people of African descent.

The term minority as used in the United Nations human rights system usually refers to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, pursuant to the United Nations Minorities Declaration. All States have one or more minority groups within their national territories, characterized by their own national, ethnic, linguistic or religious identity, which differs from that of the majority population.

Specific Instruments

The Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)
In 1992, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities.  It is the only United Nations instrument which addresses the special rights of minorities in a separate United Nations document.

Other Relevant Instruments

The core UN human rights treaties (ICCPR, ICESCR, ICERD, CRC, CAT, CEDAW, ICRMW, CRPD) provide important standards for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Two of these treaties contain minority-specific provisions:  Article 27 of ICCPR is the most widely accepted legally binding provision on minorities and provides the basis and inspiration for the UN Declaration on Minorities.  Article 30 of CRC provides a similar standard for minority children:

The Convention against Discrimination in Education” supports the obligations of State Parties to provide education of equal quality and access, without discrimination and with instruction given to students in their own language.

Regional Human and Minority Rights Standards

• The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR)
• The American Convention on Human Rights
• The Arab Charter on Human Rights
• The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• The European Charter on Regional and Minority Languages
• European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR)
• The EU Racial Equality Directive

The work of treaty monitoring bodies including the Human Rights Committee (HRC), the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) also provide valuable sources of expertise.

UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues

The Independent Expert is mandated to promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; to identify best practices and possibilities for technical cooperation at the request of Governments; and apply a gender perspective in his or her work.

See the relevant OHCHR page to view annual reports, country visits, statements and relevant international standards and thematic priorities for the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues.

Inclusive Governance: Promoting Participation of Disadvantaged Groups: The interface between formal and informal systems of justice: a study of Nari Adalats and caste Panchayats in Gujarat state, India

Inclusive Governance: Promoting Participation of Disadvantaged Groups: Adivasi rights in Jharkhand state, India;

Using rights-based strategies to secure land rights for poor & vulnerable groups: The Nijera Kori Experience in Bangladesh