Latest
news
UN
Expert on Minority issues concludes visit to Hungary with call for
continued efforts to address problems faced by Roma
Minority
4
July 2006
UN
Independent Expert on Minority issues to visit Hungary
21 June 2006
On 7 March 2006 the Independent Expert stated that new
and urgent attention must be given to the rights of women facing
multiple forms of discrimination, exclusion and
violence
8 March 2006
UN Human Rights Experts call on Myanmar to end
counter-insurgency operations targeting civilians in Northern Karen
State and Eastern Pegu Division
16 May 2006
Introduction
The UN Independent Expert on minority issues is a
special procedures mandate created by the UN Commssion on Human
Rights. The mandate complements and enhances the work of other UN
bodies and mechanisms that address minority rights and minority
issues, including the Working Group on Minorities and the treaty
monitoring bodies. Importantly, the Independent Expert can consult
directly with Governments regarding minority issues, and is also
mandated to take into account the views of NGOs, offering a unique
opportunity for constructive engagement in country situations.
Mandate
In Resolution 2005/79
the Commission on Human Rights requested the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights to appoint an
independent expert on minority issues for a period of two years,
with the mandate:
(a) To promote the implementation of the
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or
Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, including through
consultations with Governments, taking into account existing
international standards and national legislation concerning
minorities;
(b) To identify best practices and
possibilities for technical cooperation by the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at the
request of Governments;
(c) To apply a gender perspective in his
or her work;
(d) To cooperate closely, while avoiding
duplication, with existing relevant United Nations bodies,
mandates, mechanisms as well as regional organizations;
(e) To take into account the views of
non-governmental organizations on matters pertaining to his or her
mandate.
The Commission also requested the Independent
Expert to submit annual reports on her activities to the Commission,
including recommendations for effective strategies for the better
implementation of the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
In carrying out her mandate, the independent expert
will:
-receive information from diverse sources including
States, expert bodies, United Nations agencies, regional and other
inter-governmental organizations, NGOs and other civil society
organizations. Based on such information, she will communicate with
States concerning implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of
Minorities, where appropriate. Communications will include requests
for further consultation and information relating to good practices
on minority issues.
- submit annual
reports on the activities foreseen by the mandate to the
Commission on Human Rights
- undertake, at the invitation of Governments, country
visits to further constructive consultation, observe relevant
programmes and policies, register concerns, and identify areas for
cooperation. She will study national legislation, policy, regulatory
frameworks and institutions and practices, in seeking to promote the
effective implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of
Minorities.
Independent Expert
Ms. GAY MCDOUGALL (United States of America)
On 29 July 2005, Ms. Gay McDougall ( United States) was appointed
by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, as the
first holder of the position of Independent Expert on minority
issues, in accordance with the provisions of Commission on Human
Rights resolution 2005/79. The Independent Expert has an initial
mandate of 2 years.
A human rights lawyer, Gay McDougall has been
Executive Director of Global Rights since September 1994. She served
as an Independent Expert on the UN treaty body that oversees the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (ICERD), and on the U.N. Sub-Commission on Promotion
and Protection of Human Rights. As Special Rapporteur on the issue
of systematic rape and sexual slavery practices in armed conflict,
she presented a groundbreaking study calling for international legal
standards for the prosecution of such acts. She was one of five
international members of South Africa's Independent Electoral
Commission, which successfully organized and administered that
country's first non-racial elections.
To contact the Independent
Expert:
Mailing address:
Ms. Gay
McDougall
Independent Expert on minority issues
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des
Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Fax: + 41 22 917 9006
Switzerland
| 
| 
