A/65/287
oriented approach to easing tensions around the contentious language issue. The
High Commissioner persuaded the Government to adopt a new language law
permitting private universities to offer instruction in languages other than
Macedonian. He then raised the funds to establish a new university that would offer
instruction in Albanian.
84. Another interesting example of good practice is the fact-finding mission
organized by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union to Cameroon, the
Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to look into
the situation of the migratory pastoralist Mbororo community. The Mbororo have
been spreading in migrating waves across the countries in question over thousands
of years. The mission was triggered by the increasing occurrence of conflict
between the Mbororo and local settled agriculturalist communities with whom they
entered into contact. 25
85. The Peace and Security Council mission recommended a meeting of regional
Governments, representatives of the Mbororo and local affected communities, to
develop a strategy that would help reduce tension in the most sensitive areas, to
consider the delimitation of livestock corridors to be used by pastoralists and to
discuss national projects to improve Mbororo integration in the national health and
education systems, taking into account their lifestyle (mobile schools and health
structures). 26 As ever, the challenge remains the implementation of such
recommendations, particularly in countries where resources are at a premium. There
is a need for continued, sustained dialogue between Governments and communities
concerned and an emphasis on follow-up on the recommendations of such factfinding missions, ideally with the support of international humanitarian agencies.
IV. Conclusions and recommendations
86. Substantial steps have been taken over recent years to reposition international
engagement with conflict situations from the point of reaction to a point of
identification of early warnings. There is mounting evidence that one of the earliest
indicators of potential violence is the chronic disregard of minority rights. Early
warning systems must have the necessary expertise to be alert to such indicators.
While there is already a substantial flow of information to early warning
mechanisms within the United Nations system, a focus on minority rights should be
strengthened.
87. Additionally, while there has been added emphasis placed on the prevention of
certain specific crimes, including genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes
against humanity, violent conflicts that do not fit those definitions may also warrant
additional attention.
88. As the Secretary-General affirmed in his report, early warning does not equate
with early action (A/64/864, para. 19). States and international organizations remain
reluctant to take action until violence has started. That is regrettable. Too much of
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25
26
20
African Union, “Report on the migrations of Mbororo nomadic pastoralists by the fact-finding
mission dispatched to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and
Cameroon, pursuant to decision PSC/PR/Comm(XCVII) of the 97th meeting of the Peace and
Security Council, held on 25 October 2007”.
Ibid.
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