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ethnic relations and non-discrimination. As a result, two universities introduced the course
on intercultural education as an elective for the 2016/17 academic year. A third university
in southern Kyrgyzstan will pilot the course in the 2016/17 academic year, pending its
formal inclusion in the university curriculum. During the reporting period, the Regional
Office worked extensively on encouraging the participation of ethnic minorities in the
public and political life of Kyrgyzstan. It drafted a study on worldwide best practices to
improve minority participation in political life — in the civil service in particular — and in
consultative and elected bodies. The study, in which measures that could be applied in
Kyrgyzstan are highlighted, was later used as core document for a national conference on
minority participation.
17.
In Serbia, OHCHR advised an expert working group on the development of a
national Roma inclusion strategy 2016-2025 to ensure in particular employment and respect
for human rights. OHCHR also participated in consultations on the adoption of a new
national action plan on the rights of national minorities in Serbia. It created the
methodology for the consultation process with the Roma community to ensure that the
Roma people participated in and contributed to the development and implementation of the
national action plan.
18.
In Colombia, OHCHR focused on guaranteeing and protecting the rights of AfroColombians by increasing the use of national protection systems related to the principle of
free, prior and informed consent. It supported the development of appropriate protocols for
consultations involving people of African descent and third parties, thereby facilitating the
inclusion of Afro-Colombians in the consultation process for the Departmental Growth Plan
2016-2019. In addition, OHCHR assisted Afro-Colombians in defending their right to
traditional lands by providing advice, support and monitoring services. It also provided
technical assistance to improve cooperation between Afro-Colombians and the Government
at the local and national levels. This assistance focused on the inclusion of projects for
ethnic minorities in local and national development plans and the incorporation of an ethnic
dimension in the peace talks between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia — People’s Army (FARC-EP). Finally, OHCHR supported the establishment,
pursuant to decision T-576/14 of the Constitutional Court, of a national consultation space
for the Afro-Colombian communities. The Office also attended the first session of the
national consultation space, along with 220 representatives from Afro-Colombian
communities and other organizations.
19.
In cooperation with civil society, OHCHR in Tunisia has begun to assess and record
cases of racial discrimination against black Tunisian minorities and foreigners residing in
the country. The Office has set up a capacity-building programme, to benefit associations
working to protect the minority rights of black Tunisians. At government level, after several
discussions with the Ministry responsible for human rights, a working group on racial
discrimination was established. A draft law to criminalize racism and racial discrimination,
which will be considered by the Assembly of the Representatives of the People in the
coming months, was submitted by a group of civil society associations.
20.
OHCHR-Yemen has continued to document human rights violations, with a special
focus on the rights of minority communities. Additionally, OHCHR has worked with
United Nations agencies and other humanitarian actors to establish a joint United Nations
early warning system for the protection of civilians. A set of quantitative and qualitative
indicators, including those on minorities, will be collected and will serve as a basis for an
overview of the situation in Yemen. Minority communities have suffered the consequences
of the ongoing conflict and have been especially vulnerable to arbitrary arrest. On 10
August 2016, 68 people, including women and 20 followers of the Baha’i faith, were
arrested and held without charge in Sana’a prison, allegedly by the Yemeni National
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