UN Forum probes ways to increase minorities’ involvement in economic progress and development by Minority Rights Group International 4:34pm 15th Dec, 2010   Dec 2010    The 2010 session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues will focus on ways to increase the effective participation of minorities in economic life.    The meeting, which brings together hundreds of minority rights activists from around the world and representatives of UN Member States, will take place on 14 and 15 December in Geneva, Switzerland.    ‘Economic exclusion is a cause, a manifestation and a consequence of discrimination against persons belonging to minorities. Many minorities have historically been excluded from full and effective participation in economic life, both in the developed and in the developing world,’ says Gay McDougall, UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues.    ‘They are often discriminated against when they seek employment, on the basis of their colour, religion, language, names or even addresses,’ she adds.    Minorities are often poorly represented in public and private sector employment, despite legislation that bans discrimination in both areas. They may face barriers in accessing loans to begin small businesses and may live in the poorest or remote regions that offer limited prospects for their economic development.    Equally, large–scale commercial activities carried out on the lands where minorities live without their prior consultation has had negative impacts, including displacement, the perpetuation of poverty and, in some cases, violence.    In Bangladesh, Hindus have faced indiscriminate and sometimes violent land seizures. In China, ethnic minorities have seen their average incomes fall behind those of the majority Han Chinese. In Colombia, Afro-descendant communities face forced dispossession of their land as the on-going conflict continues to cause displacement as well as affect individual livelihoods.    In many countries, government infrastructure investment lags behind in minority areas, preventing access to markets and reducing chances of employment. This is the case, for example, in Iran.    ‘The rights of minorities to participate effectively in economic life must be fully taken into account by Governments seeking to promote equality at every level. From implementing non-discrimination in employment, and enforcing corporate responsibility principles to developing national economic development and international development assistance schemes,’ says McDougall.    Minority Rights Group International is pleased to be fully involved in the 2010 UN Minorities Forum; supporting our many partner organisations from around the world who are attending the event. Please check Minority Voices Newsroom for photos, interviews and video from this exciting meeting. Visit the related web page
	Next (more recent) news item
	Next (older) news item