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The need for Governments to abolish discriminatory provisions related to religious
affiliations in constitutions and laws;
The need for the creation of anti-discrimination mechanisms to be followed by human
and minority rights awareness-raising campaigns and building the capacity of key public
and law enforcement institutions on these mechanisms. Alternative judicial mechanisms
that exist, particularly in rural communities, should also be fully cognizant with these
national and international minority rights standards;
The need to support initiatives aimed at increasing the number and quality of regional
consultations;
The need for UN agencies and Member States to be flexible, well-coordinated and
inclusive to address today’s challenges;
The need for the Forum on Minority Issues to be strengthened, including through
additional funds and through innovative and flexible approaches such as securing an
annual half-day or whole day discussion within a regular session of the Human Rights
Council;
The possibility to create a Permanent Forum on Minority Issues to ensure a longer and
institutionally ensured engagement;
That participation of minorities would be enhanced by the establishment of a UN
Voluntary Fund on Minorities;
The need for more recognition of young people belonging to minorities and to provide
them with opportunities for empowerment;
The possibility to establish a focal point on minority youth, such as a Minority Youth
Caucus composed as a network of young persons, to promote a youth perspective at the
Forum on Minority Issues and other UN conferences in coordination with civil society,
governments and activists worldwide;
The paramount importance of human rights education for promoting tolerance and mutual
understanding between people of different ethnicity, culture and religion;
The need to develop and implement a proactive policy in the field of education in the
mother language as well as a focus on discussion of the issues of pluralism and the
contribution of minorities in society and debunking negative stereotypes and myths.
Mr Endeko Charles Endeko, from the Hadzabe Survival Council of Tanzania,
presented on “Minority political participation: the situation of the Hadzabe in
Tanzania” first highlighting that this minority group is marginalised in all spheres of
development including in education, social services and recognition by State in policies
and laws. He indicated that formal education is not available to the Hadzabe who also
lack knowledge of the Declaration and minority rights standards and their importance for
them. He mentioned that such lack of knowledge also applies to the Government that
does not seem to be aware of minority rights standards and principles applicable to the
situation of the Hadzabe. With a view to implement the Declaration, he suggested the
following: that programmes for increasing State’s awareness of the rights of the Hadzabe
minority be designed, that specific provisions to protect their rights be included in the
Constitution of Tanzania and that programmes focusing on education, environmental
conservation, water and health be designed for the Hadzabe minority.
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