A/HRC/20/26/Add.1
designated territories. It is important to note that a strict application of the criteria of
territoriality, notably with respect to rights in the field of education, could undermine
efforts to safeguard the languages and identities of minorities, especially considering
that nowadays, for a number of reasons, members of minorities may opt to settle in
regions other than those they traditionally inhabit. Following previous
recommendations by regional and international human rights bodies, the Independent
Expert urges the Government to be more flexible in its approach, to consider
extending support to linguistic and ethnic groups other than those officially
recognized in Austria and to improve the existing mechanisms for the disbursement of
funds for activities of national minorities.
97.
The Independent Expert is concerned about the data-collection system used for
the 2011 census, which excluded information on national, linguistic and religious
affiliation, contrary to previous censuses. The Independent Expert encourages the
Government to adopt a non-mandatory and anonymous information-gathering system
with a view to enabling/creating a database on cultural diversity in Austria, including
data on linguistic and religious diversity as well as internal and international
migration. Such a system should guarantee privacy and be respectful of the principle
of self-identification of all persons regarding their national, linguistic and religious
affiliations. Where necessary, the Government should initiate dialogues with
communities to strengthen trust and understanding of the purpose of such a survey.
To that end, the Independent Expert also recommends that the Government consult
with, in particular, civil society organizations and the communities concerned with
regard to the specific formulation of questions to be asked during the census.
98.
The Independent Expert is concerned that the schooling system, which divides
education after kindergarten and after primary school into separate parallel streams
has an indirect discriminatory effect on children according to their background.
Negatively impacting children with disabilities and a migrant background, the system
impedes opportunities for cross-cultural interaction which are essential for
intercultural understanding and building pluralistic societies. The Independent
Expert welcomes the creation of new middle schools and recommends the adoption of
an integrated system for all compulsory education in public schools.
99.
The Government should take all necessary measures to ensure full respect for
human rights and cultural diversity by all public officials and security forces,
including by expanding its initiatives to include training on human rights and cultural
diversity in the mandatory curricula of public officials across the country.
100. Measures are needed to encourage public and private media to avoid
stigmatizing certain communities. Intercultural exchanges among diverse groups
would help to overcome ghettoization according to attributes such as language,
religion, ethnic background and any kind of disability.
101. The Independent Expert welcomes the existing initiatives to promote interfaith
dialogue. However, more than religious authorities engaging with each other, the need
is to provide also opportunities for communities to share experiences and engage with
each other.
102. The Austrian Constitution is in the process of being reformed. The Independent
Expert encourages the Austrian Constitutional Assembly to adopt a coherent and
comprehensive catalogue of human rights, including economic, social and cultural
rights, as well as the rights of the child.
103. The Independent Expert recommends that the Government, as a matter of
priority, adopt an integrated national human rights plan of action and a human rights
institution in conformity with the Paris Principles, mandated to oversee all rights,
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