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Seventh session of the Forum on Minority Issues
Date
25 - 26 November 2014
LOCATION
Room XX of the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
THEME
Preventing and addressing violence and atrocity crimes targeted against minorities
Mr Patrick Thornberry was appointed as Chair of the seventh session of the Forum that focused on “Preventing and addressing violence and atrocity crimes targeted against minorities”. It took place on 25 and 26 November 2014 at Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.
Some 570 participants attended this seventh session of the Forum, including United Nations Member States, intergovernmental and regional organizations, human rights treaty body members, national human rights institutions, United Nations specialized agencies, academics and experts, as well as civil society actors working on minority issues. In addition to this wide range of stakeholders, this session brought together persons belonging to minority groups who are actively engaged in minority rights advocacy and in the protection and promotion of minority rights.
Outcome documents
- Recommendations on "Preventing and addressing violence and atrocity crimes targeted against minorities" (A/HRC/28/77)
Further information
- List of participants
- Provisional agenda (A/HRC/FMI/2014/1)
- Concept note (A/HRC/FMI/2014/2)
- Draft recommendations (A/HRC/FMI/2014/3)
- Programme of Work [E]
Oral statements
I. Opening Meeting
- Statement by the President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Ambasador Baudelaire Ndong Ella
- Statement (delivered through video message) by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Jan Eliasson
- Statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
- Statement (delivered through video message) by the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Ms. Rita Izsák
- Remarks by the Chair of the Forum on Minority Issues, Professor Patrick Thornberry
II. Legal framework and key concepts
Assigned Speakers
- Ms. Astrid Thors, High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
- Mr. Antti Korkeakivi, on behalf of the UN Network on Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
- Ms. Anastasia Crickley, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
- Ms. Simona Cruciani on behalf of Ms. Jennifer Welsh (United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect).
Participants
- United Nations Development Program
- Permanent Mission of Greece
- TAU (Agricultural Union) South Africa
- Libyan Working Group
- Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center
- Permanent Mission of Pakistan
- Permanent Mission of Romania
- Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation
- Szekler National Council
- Permanent Mission of Myanmar
- Permanent Mission of the European Union
- Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation
- Permanent Mission of Georgia
- Permanent Mission of Costa Rica
- Permanent Mission of Norway
- Permanent Mission of Iraq
- Permanent Mission of China
- Permanent Mission of Libya
III. Understanding the root causes of violence and atrocity crimes
Assigned speakers
- Mr. Bacre Ndiaye, Former Director of the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures Division at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary of Arbitrary Executions.
- Dr. György Tatar, Director of the Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities.
- Ms. Diane Ala’I, Representative to the United Nations for the Baha’I International Community
- Mr. Zuher Lazgeen, Ambassador of Citizenship, PAX^s initiative/ Harilar, Iraq
Participants
- Asociacion Miraismo Internacional
- Freedom Front Plus – South Africa
- Shabak Democratic Gathering
- Autistic Minority International
- NGO Russian School in Estonia
- Al-Zahraa Youth Forum
- Lawyer – Adil Ghaffar
- African Rights Monitor
- Baloch National Movement
- Ecumenical Federation of Constantinopolitans
- Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic
- Association pour la promotion de la francophonie en Flandre à PFF
- ADHUM Association pour la promotion des droits humains et des minorités
- Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association
- Centre Zagros pour les Droits de l’Homme
- World Uyghur Congress
- United Copts GB
- Organisation for Defending Victims of Violence
- Association for Human Rights of Azerbaijanis in Iran
- Centre for Combating Racism and Discrimination against Aras in Iran
- Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO)
- Al-Haq
- National Commission of Violence Against Women
- Women Peace Network Arakan
- Icon Media
- Al Kalema Center for Human Rights
- Egyptian Center for Human Rights
- Analytical Centre on Globalisation and regional Cooperation, Armenia
- Permanent Mission of Iran
- Permanent Mission of Somalia
- Ruby’s Rescue Center Ltd.
- Permanent Mission of Armenia
- Permanent Mission of Turkey
- Voices for Peace 1-2
- Liberation
- World Barua Organization
- Al-Khoei Foundation
- United Nations Children’s Fund
- Assyrian Human Rights Network – Syria
- Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain
- NGO Sandidzan
- Minority Women and Child Development
- Red Latino Americana y del Caribe Para La Democracia – REDLAD
- Permanent Mission of Romania
- Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation
- Permanent Mission of Iraq
- Scales 4 Justice
- Civil and property Rights of Women with mental and Psycho social disabilities of Brahmin minority community group in Tamil Nadu
- National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria
- Reply by the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the African Rights Monitor
IV. Improving prevention of violence and atrocity crimes
Assigned speakers
- Mr. Francesco Motta, Chief of Human Rights Section United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)
- Ms. Nina Singh, Joint Director, Central Bureau of Investigation Government of India
- Dr. Brillliant Mhlanga, Senior Lecturer in Media Cultures, School of Humanities, University of Hertfordshire
Participants
- Permanent Mission of Ethiopia
- Permanent Mission of Egypt
- AfriForum
- YASA – Kurdish Center for Studies and Legal Consultancy
- UnioE EUCOHR European Union of Coptic Organisations
- NBPA / Creole Communal Government / KONIC
- Initiative for Ezidis Around the World
- Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN)/IDSN
- Association “Center for Research and Protection of Basic Rights”
- Open Borders
- Dalit Welfare Organisation
- Spravedlivost
- Mauritania Association for the Promotion of Rights
- All Youth Network for Community Development
- Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe
- Permanent Mission of Hungary
- Permanent Mission of Canada
- SPHER International
- Ogaden Youth and Student Union
- The Office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Desk of the MSC Indonesia – West Papua
- Minority Rights Group International
- Somalia Women Caucus
- Permanent Mission of China
- Journalist (Individual Capacity) – Peter Magdy
- Compassion for Pakistan
- Al-Hakim Foundation
- Gabooye Minority Organisation Europe
- Permanent Mission of Austria
- Permanent Mission of Australia
- Ukrainian Human Rights Commission
- International Movement Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
- Permanent Mission of Brazil
- Permanent Mission of Mexico
- Permanent Mission of Italy
- Permanent Mission of Mauritania
- FVAFD (Foundation of the victims of abduction and forced disappearance)
- Islamic Human Rights Commission
- Permanent Mission of Venezuela
- Reply by the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the Ogaden Youth and Student Union
V. After violence breaks out – essential measures for resolution, protection and security
Assigned speakers
- Ms. Pascale Warda, President of Hammurabi Human Rights Organisation and former Minister of Migration and displacement in Iraq
- Mr. Mark Lattimer, Executive Director, Minority Rights Group International (MRG)
- Ms. Naomi Kikoler, Deputy Director of the Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Ms. Wai Wai Nu, Director, Women Peace Network Arakam, Myanmar
Participants
- Uzbek National Cultural Center in Kyrgyzstan
- Ashur Organization for Human Rights
- Egyptian Centre for Development Studies and Human Rights
- Australian Hazara Women’s Friendship Network Inc.
- Armenian Catholieosate of Great House of Cilica
- Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention Council of Europe
- Iraqi Foundation for Cultural Liaison
- Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
- Permanent Mission of Ukraine
- Amnesty International
- Permanent Mission of Pakistan
- Sindh Rights
- Permanent Mission of the United States of America
- Permanent Mission of Denmark
- Imam Ali Center Ticino
- Association for the Defense of Ahlulbayt Rights
- Bangladesh Minority Council and National Human Rights
- Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation
- Lalish Cultural & Social Center/ Iraq
- PAX (Kulluna Muwatinoon)
- Wellbeing Foundation
- All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation “Gorenie”
- Permanent Mission of Iran
- Egyptian Alliance to support Electoral Democracy
- Permanent Mission of Myanmar
- Permanent Mission of Greece
- Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council Europe
- Committee for defending ethnic and religious groups in Iraq
- Council of Europe
- Forum for Secular Bangladesh
- Spravedlivost
VI. Avoiding renewed violence-building the peace and managing diversity
Assigned speakers
- Ms. Yasmin Sooka, Executive Director Foundation for Human Rights, South Africa
- Ms. Thilagam Ramalingam, Program Director of Evidence/ International Dalit Solidarity Network, India
- Mr. Mofidul Hoque, Co-founder and trustee of the Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh
- Ms. Pastor Esther Ibanga, Religious leader and Co-founder and President of the “Women Without Walls Initiative”, Nigeria
- Dr Sajjad Hassan, Senior Fellow, Aman Biradari Campaign, India
Participants
- Permanent Mission of South Africa
- La Voix des Jummas
- Acheh Sumatra Liberation Front
- Human Rights Caucus
- Permanent Mission of Colombia
- Permanent Mission of Indonesia
- Allied Nexus of Nusantara Communities (HARUM)
- Federal Lezghin National and Cultural Autonomy
- Rehoboth Baster Community
- Syriac Universal Alliance
- Center for Reproductive Rights
- Americans for Human Rights in Bahrain
- Direction aux Affaires Savoisiennes
- Permanent Mission of Iraq
- Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan
- Permanent of Georgia
- European Union
- Permanent Mission of Mexico
- King Ahmed Ugaas Iimaan Warsame