Have there been attempts, in spite of its difficulties, to measure, how the perceptions of
the majority population towards minority
populations as well the self-perceptions of
minorities themselves have changed?
The results of the monitoring are publicized
and used to inform the recommendations for
teachers and head teachers which will be drawn
up at the end of the project.
UNDP Kosovo has relied on ethnic distance surveys as part of its regular Early Warning Reports.
Among their initiatives was the establishment
of an Expert Group on Interethnic Issues to
evaluate the findings of the surveys and make
policy advice. The responses are disaggregated
by ‘Kosovar-Serb’, ‘Kosovar-Albanian’ and ‘other’.
Some examples of the questions asked as part of
the Early Warning Reports are:
Frequency of interethnic contacts:
On more than three occasions
One or two occasions
I haven’t had any contact
I deliberately have avoided contact with any
person from another nationality
Inclination to work and live with other
ethnic groups:
Would work with
Would live on the same street
Would live in the same town
Would marry
Prognosis on when interethnic tensions
will normalize:
They will normalize in the near future
They will normalize in the distant future
Relations are already normal
They will never normalize
TOOL NO. 7:
EARLY WARNING ON MINORITIES
AND CONFLICT
This tool assists in early warning by assessing
whether a country is at risk of violent conflict involving minorities. It is adapted from
three sources: indicators identified by the UN
Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the
Prevention of Genocide; ‘Indicators for Preventing
Genocide’ adopted by the UN Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)57;
and indicators suggested by Minority Rights
Group International in the report, Minority Rights:
The Key to Conflict Prevention (2007).
Using this tool:
This tool is presented as an example only and
indicators must be adapted to the specific
country situation. It is most relevant in countries
that have a history of inter-communal conflict.
However, inter-communal tensions may emerge
in any country and early signs of rising tension
will be evident if monitored systematically. This
tool can also help to assess whether existing tensions/violence are escalating towards genocide.
In situations of on-going conflict, the data collected can help to identify probable root causes
of conflict, which can in turn be used for devising
appropriate conflict prevention and resolution
measures. It would be beneficial if minority CSOs
are consulted as to which subjects and indicators
are most relevant for conflict prevention.
Any UNDP projects impacting on political
reform, economic inequality, land rights, justice
sector reform and education reform, would benefit from application of early warning monitoring
to ensure that projects will not exacerbate tensions. UNDP in some COs (e.g. Kosovo, Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) has prepared
Early Warning Reports that include collection
of data on inter-communal tensions involving
minority groups.
UN Doc. CERD/C/67/1 (14 October 2005).
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