This report was sent to www.humanrigtshouse.org from www.HREA.org, the UN run website of Human Rights Education Associates. It has been edited for republication here by HRH / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photo of the UN Human Rights Council Headquarters, previously the UN HR High Commission: HRH / Niels Jacob Harbitz.
Exclusion, discrimination and racism directed at ethnic, religious and linguistic minority groups continue to fuel social unrest in every region of the world, said Ms. McDougall, according to a Council press release. Minority rights and policies of inclusion and equality play a vital role in promoting political and social stability, she said, adding discrimination against ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities is often linked to disproportionate levels of poverty in those communities.
Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, focused in his report on the gap between many countries’ laws recognizing indigenous peoples and the daily reality of their situation. The gap in implementation will only be closed once full participation of indigenous organizations and civil society was guaranteed, Mr. Stavenhagen said. Special Rapporteurs are unpaid and serve in an independent personal capacity, reporting to the 47-member Council on their work.
Representatives from more than 30 countries and groups, including Amnesty International, also spoke during today’s discussions. This second session of the Council, set up earlier this year to replace the much-criticized Human Rights Commission, opened yesterday and will run until 6 October.
