‘The way in which we treat minorities is the measure of civilization of a society.’ Mahatma Gandhi In the era of globalization, societies are becoming more diverse. Every country around the globe exhibits some ethnic, religious or cultural diversity. Instead of an asset to be celebrated, however, governments too often treat this as a threat. States in every world region repress the rights of their minorities or even deny their existence. For some minorities or indigenous peoples, their very survival is at stake. In addition to the war in Iraq, which remained the focus of intense media attention, over 20 further major armed conflicts were ongoing in other parts of the world in 2005, as well as a range of lower intensity conflicts. In three-quarters of these armed conflicts, violence was targeted at specific ethnic or religious groups. Yet many of these conflicts could have been prevented if minority and indigenous rights had been respected. This first edition of the State of the World’s Minorities looks at key developments over the last year affecting the human rights and security of ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples. It includes: - a Preface by the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Juan E. Méndez - analysis of trends and legal developments by leading authorities on minority rights - an overview by world region highlighting main developments and areas of concern - statistical data on Peoples under Threat 2006 - ratification tables for the main minority rights treaties and extracts from recently concluded treaties. This major new reference work provides an objective analysis of how minorities and indigenous peoples are treated around the globe – and, with it, a measure of the civilization of our societies.

The unique cultures of minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide – spanning a wide variety of customs and practices – are under threat. This year’s edition of State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples highlights the impact of land dispossession, forced assimilation and other forms of discrimination on the most fundamental aspects of their identity, including language, art, traditional knowledge and spirituality. But while the effects of this attrition can be devastating, minority and indigenous cultures have also been critical in strengthening communities and providing activists with a platform to fight for their rights. As this volume illustrates, ensuring that the cultural freedoms of minorities and indigenous peoples are protected is essential if their other rights are also to be respected.

In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaimed that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’. Sadly, for many minorities and indigenous peoples around the world, this inspirational text – with its emphasis on equality and non-discrimination – remains a dream, not a reality. Ethnic or sectarian tensions are evident in many parts of our globe. In places, they have boiled over into bitter violence. The Middle East situation continues to deteriorate – with some minority communities fearing for their very survival. In Africa, the crisis in Darfur is deepening as government-sponsored militia continues to carry out massive human rights abuses against traditional farming communities. In Europe, the spotlight has fallen on Muslim minorities – with rows flaring over the Danish cartoons and the wearing of the veil and burqa. Now more than ever, world leaders must insist that the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples be respected. The participation of minorities is essential if conflict is to be prevented and lasting peace is to be built. This second annual edition of the State of the World’s Minorities looks at the key developments over 2006 affecting the human rights and security of ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples. It includes: - a preface by the UN’s Independent Expert on Minority Issues - a unique statistical analysis of Peoples under Threat 2007 - a special focus on the participation of minorities, with analysis from leading academics on electoral representation and the European system - an eye-witness report from Sri Lanka on the impact on minorities of the resurgence of conflict - comprehensive, regional sections outlining the main areas of concern as well as any notable progress. The State of the World’s Minorities is an invaluable reference for policy-makers, academics, journalists and everyone who is interested in the conditions facing minorities and indigenous peoples around the world.

In 2008, Minority Rights Group will mark 40 years of working with minority and indigenous communities around the world. Progress has been made, but much remains to be done. New challenges are emerging. In 2007, climate change raced up the international agenda. Many minority communities are already bearing the brunt of extended drought, rising water levels or the planting of biofuel crops to combat global warming. As policy-makers develop strategies to cope with climate change, it is vitally important that the rights of minorities are taken into account. The ‘war on terrorism’ continues to impact adversely on minorities in countries as diverse as China, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia and Sri Lanka. Ethnic conflict is spreading in Central Africa, the deadly consequences of the unresolved Darfur crisis. Afro-descendant communities in many Latin American countries face deeply entrenched racism. The Roma minority in Europe often faces discrimination in accessing basic social services, such as housing, education and health. This third annual edition of State of the World’s Minorities looks at these and other issues affecting the human rights and security of ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples. It includes: - a preface by 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate, Professor Wangari Maathai - a ground-breaking analysis of the impact of climate change on minorities - first-hand accounts of the impact of global warming from minorities themselves - an eye-witness report from Pakistan on the plight of the country’s religious minorities - comprehensive regional sections, highlighting the main areas for concern, as well as any notable progress - a unique statistical analysis and ranking of Peoples under Threat 2008. State of the World’s Minorities is an invaluable reference for policy-makers, academics, journalists and everyone who is interested in the conditions facing minorities and indigenous peoples around the world.

In a context of rapid growth, an increasing proportion of minorities and indigenous peoples are now living in urban areas. But while they offer the possibility of greater freedoms, improved livelihoods and more equitable opportunities, cities often magnify existing patterns of discrimination and insecurity. This year's edition of State of the world's minorities and indigenous peoples explores the many challenges communities face in urban areas, from segregation and lack of services to targeted violence and exclusion. Nevertheless, the volume also includes numerous cases of minorities and indigenous peoples achieving better social and political outcomes for themselves in cities, as well as examples of the substantial benefits their inclusion can bring to the entire urban population.

Natural resource development projects such as logging and dams, oil and mineral extraction and large-scale agriculture have been successful in generating vast revenues across the globe. But at what cost to minorities and indigenous peoples?In its flagship annual publication, State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2012, MRG documents hundreds of case studies about marginalized groups who have been adversely affected by exploitation of the resources found on, or under, their ancestral lands. It also considers land rights around the world.

In the year that saw the establishment of UN Women, the new United Nations entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment, minority and indigenous women continued to face violence, discrimination and marginalization, stemming both from their identity as women and as members of disadvantaged minority groups. In Latin America, despite the election of women as heads of state in several countries, African descendant and indigenous women remain virtually invisible in public and political life. They are also the population group that has borne the brunt of armed conflict in the region, subjected to rape and sexual violence. As elsewhere, they have little hope of redress against those who assaulted them. In Europe and Oceania, migrant women face economic and social marginalization, and are often unable to access support services because of their immigration status, leaving them trapped in abusive relationships. In 2010, women belonging to Muslim minorities in the global North choosing to wear the face veil also faced increasing pressure, with bans under discussion in many countries. In the Middle East and Africa, minority and indigenous women continue to be subjected to religious and customary legal systems that deny them their rights, while Iraqi refugee women (many of whom belong to religious minorities) elsewhere in the Middle East are increasingly vulnerable to trafficking and sexual exploitation. In Asia, sexual violence against women has again been used as a weapon against minority women, while land seizures are resulting in further economic marginalization of indigenous groups. This year’s edition of State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples presents an overview of the situation of minority and indigenous women today, and includes: - Discussions of gender-based violence and armed conflict, including the violence that indigenous and minority women experience within their own communities, and the difficulties that they face in accessing justice and support from outside. - Consideration of the lack of progress made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals for minority and indigenous women, with special focus on reproductive rights and maternal mortality. - Interviews and special reports on trafficking, intersectional discrimination, land seizures and women’s political representation. - Overviews of the human rights situation of minorities and indigenous peoples in every major world region. - ‘Peoples Under Threat 2011’ – MRG’s unique statistical analysis and ranking of countries. An invaluable reference for policy makers, academics, journalists and everyone who is interested in the human rights situation of minorities and indigenous peoples around the world.