A/HRC/10/11/Add.2 page 5 Introduction 1. The independent expert on minority issues visited Guyana between 28 July and 1 August 2008, inter alia to promote implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. She conducted extensive consultations with senior government representatives, including the State President, numerous ministers responsible for issues related to her mandate, and other senior public officials. She consulted civil society organizations, political parties, religious leaders, academics, and media representatives. The independent expert visited Georgetown and its environs, where she consulted community members, and held open forums in order to gain their views and hear their issues. She held a forum for women in order to allow them to speak about their lives and raise issues important to women. 2. The independent expert thanks the Government of Guyana for its cooperation throughout the preparation and conduct of her mission. She thanks the numerous non-governmental organizations and civil society groups that met with her, provided valuable information, and facilitated additional aspects of her visit. 3. The independent expert’s evaluation of minority issues in Guyana is based on the 1992 Declaration on Minorities and other relevant international standards, from which she has identified four broad areas of concern relating to minorities globally. These are: (a) the protection of a minority’s survival, through combating violence against them and preventing genocide; (b) the protection and promotion of the cultural identity of minority groups and the right of national, ethnic, religious or linguistic groups to enjoy their collective identity and to reject forced assimilation; (c) the guarantee of the rights to non-discrimination and equality, including ending structural or systemic discrimination and the promotion of affirmative action when required; and (d) the guarantee of the right to effective participation of members of minorities in public life, especially with regard to decisions that affect them. 4. According to the 2002 census, Guyana has a population of 751,000 in 182,615 households. Indo-Guyanese make up 43.5 per cent of the population and Afro-Guyanese 30.2 per cent. Some 16.7 per cent of the population identify as being of mixed race. There are nine indigenous peoples in Guyana (known as Amerindians in Guyanese legislation since the 1950s),2 and approximately 130 indigenous communities occupying the forests and savannahs of the interior, constituting 9.2 per cent of the population. Whites, Chinese, Portuguese and others make up slightly under 0.5 per cent of the population. Georgetown with a population of 134,231 represents 17.7 per cent of the entire population, and Region 4 within which it is located represents one quarter of the population. The Government officially promotes the multicultural nature of the country and national unity - hence the slogan “Guyana, land of six peoples” and the country’s motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”. A relatively large proportion of the adult population, including large numbers of the skilled workforce, emigrates every year, primarily to the United States, Canada, Britain and the Caribbean. 2 The nine indigenous peoples are: Arecuna, Arawak, Akawaio, Carib, Macushi, Patamona, Warrau, Wapisiana and Wai Wai.