The
Working Groups on minorities and on indigenous populations
of the UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights have respectively
recommended that seminars be held in Africa with a view
to raising greater awareness of issues pertaining to
minorities and indigenous peoples and addressing ways
by which enhanced integration of all groups within society
could ensure peace and stability within and beyond African
states. In the light of the above, both working groups
decided to organize a seminar on minorities and indigenous
peoples in Africa, prior to their respective sessions
as well as the session of the Sub-Commission in 2000.
ICES was pleased to respond to the outcome of the series
of discussions with the UN Working Group on Minorities
which developed a proposal for the holding of a seminar,
as set out below.
The
objective of the seminar was to bring together a number
of government representatives, experts, representatives
of institutions and NGOs from various regions of Africa
to discuss two major issues, namely: the status of minorities/indigenous
peoples/ethnic groups and majorities and their relationships
with the state; and the implementation of international
and regional human rights standards with specific reference
to minority and indigenous rights as they apply to the
African continent.
The
seminar was held at the Arusha International Centre,
Arusha, Tanzania from 13-15 May 2000. Judge Navanethem
Pillay, President of the International Criminal Tribunal
for Rwanda, chaired the first session of the seminar.
It was well attended by local and regional activists,
intellectuals, NGO representatives, including human
rights organisations, minorities and indigenous peoples'
organisations, during all three days. Among the participants
were Jose Bengoa, member of the UN Working Group on
Minorities, and Naomi Kipuri, member of UN Board of
Trustees (Kenya).
ICES
hopes to hold a follow-up seminar in the early part
of 2001 in association with the UN Working Group on
Indigenous Populations.
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