Table 3. How can overcoming poverty of minorities improve overall
human development?
Selected factors in
minority poverty
Probable impact on
national development
Possible policy response
Discrimination in access Higher unemployment; fewer
to employment, to equal (minority-led) businesses; lower
wages and to credit
human capital; weaker social
cohesion; lower growth
Adopt non-discrimination provisions
in labour laws; create employment
tribunals; establish/monitor microcredit support to minority businesses
Less access to land
and less security in
land rights
Higher slum populations; less
investment in land production
by those with weak land security;
lower growth
Support to land titling; clear provisions
on land rights; support resolution of
land rights claims; where appropriate,
enable communal land rights titling
Living in regions where
there are fewer public
services or employment
Lower life expectancy; Higher levels
of child and maternal mortality;
higher rates of unemployment;
lower levels of educational attainment; less trust in government
institutions; lower growth; weaker
social cohesion
Increase resource investment in
minority areas; provide incentives to
professionals (e.g. teachers, doctors) for
employment in services to minority
areas; avoid involuntary displacement
of minority communities
Less access to
education and higher
rates of illiteracy
across generations
Lower levels of
educational attainment;
Fewer skilled labourers; lower
human capital, especially in
underdeveloped regions; weaker
social cohesion; lower growth
Monitor access to education for
minorities; introduce adult education
and skills training; support training
for teachers from minority groups;
reform curricula for non-discrimination
and inclusiveness
Less access to justice
to protect rights to
employment, land and
non-discrimination in
accessing public services
Weaker rule of law; less trust
in government institutions;
weaker social cohesion; lower
human capital
Monitor justice system for inequalities
in access; training for justice sector
on non-discrimination and other
minority rights
Lack of knowledge of
dominant languages
hindering access to
markets or employment
Less market trading; higher levels
of unemployment; less investment
in human capital; lower growth
Ensure access to education for
minorities; provide translation of public
employment opportunities; support
minority media for market information
Low levels of political
representation to
request equal access to
budgetary resources
Less fair distribution of national
resources; underdevelopment of
minority regions; weak or absent
minority input into national policy;
less trust in government
institutions; lower growth;
weaker social cohesion
Ensure freedom of association for
minorities; reform electoral systems to
ensure fair representation of minorities;
support the development of parliamentary support networks for minority
parliamentarians; ensure transparency
in budgetary decision-making
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