A/HRC/4/9/Add.3 page 5 Introduction 1. The independent expert on minority issues visited Ethiopia from 28 November to 12 December 2006, in pursuance of her mandate. During her visit, she conducted extensive consultations with senior government representatives, civil society organizations, academic institutions and representatives of political parties. She consulted with the Ministers of Justice, Women’s Affairs, Education and Federal Affairs and other senior government officials, in order to assess the government perspective on minority issues in Ethiopia. She also obtained the views of members of minority communities themselves, elders and women from different ethnic communities, through consultations and open discussion forums.1 She undertook a visit to the Gambella region of southwest Ethiopia and consulted directly with community members, local regional government representatives and others in order to gain their views and opinions. 2. The independent expert takes this opportunity to thank the Government of Ethiopia for extending an invitation to her, and for their assistance and cooperation during the conduct of her mission. She also greatly appreciates the assistance of numerous civil society organizations and institutions within Ethiopia and internationally, and the cooperation of United Nations agencies in Ethiopia, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). 3. The independent expert’s evaluation of the situation of minorities in Ethiopia is based on the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other relevant international standards. She identifies four broad areas of concern relating to minorities globally. These are: (a) protecting the existence of a minority, including through protection of the physical integrity of its people and the prevention of genocide; (b) protecting and promoting cultural and social identity, and the right of national, ethnic, religious or linguistic groups to affirm and protect their collective identity and to reject forced assimilation; (c) ensuring effective non-discrimination and equality, including ending structural or systemic discrimination; and (d) ensuring effective participation of members of minorities in public life, especially with regard to decisions that affect them. 4. The independent expert notes that in using the term minorities, the focus of her work is on distinct groups within societies that have faced long-term discrimination and disadvantage on the basis of identity as belonging to a national, ethnic, religious or linguistic group. Under her mandate, minority status is not defined by numerical factors alone. She acknowledges that distinct groups that are numerically a minority in society may at the same time have dominance over the economy, political structures, or other sectors. The present report focuses on ethnic and religious groups of varying sizes in a society of numerous distinct ethnicities. 1 Quotes used in this report are original comments made to the independent expert during consultations with governmental and non-governmental sources during her visit. In all cases the identity of the source is withheld.