Box 8: Minorities and Conflict: Experiences from Minority Groups In a 2005 UN workshop on Minorities and Conflict Prevention and Resolution, participants from minority groups in conflict areas shared experiences from several regions, highlighting the common factors that stimulate conflict involving minorities. The minority participants identified the following root causes and solutions to conflict involving minorities: Root causes of conflict:                  Discriminatory government legislation that does not recognize minority groups, that deny minority groups their rights to land; and inappropriate government policies that fail to consider the lifestyles of minorities, e.g. pastoralists Lack of participation in decision-making bodies, and non-consultation of minorities in issues that affect the minority people Weakening of the traditional forms of settling disputes, such as the council of elders Religious intolerance, including caste systems and the imposition of state religion Poverty that disproportionately affects minorities Competition for limited natural resources Gross violations of human rights by governments and multinational corporations. Institutionalized racial exclusion causes poverty, which causes conflict Unfair distribution of resources and infrastructure Leadership tussle among political leaders in order to serve their own interests Forced evictions by the government without compensation or providing alternative land for the minority groups Government and international bodies failing to act on early-warning signals Denial of internal self-determination Not having access to basic social services and lack of social security provision Unfair justice system Inferiority of minority language Fighting for group identity. Recommended solutions to conflict:            Constitutional recognition of ethnic, religious, linguistic and national minorities Legislative reforms in conformity with international human rights standards, in particular with the UN Declaration on the Rights of National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities Dialogue promotion among the conflicting parties Strengthening the traditional forms of settling disputes Timely action on early-warning signals Provision of effective protection in minority areas Fair and equal distribution of natural resources and infrastructure Impartial promotion and enforcement of human rights legislation Access to justice Effective participation in decision-making bodies The public in general and minorities in particular should be educated on minority rights. Source: Report on the Workshop on Minorities and Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Geneva, Switzerland, 26-27 May 2005 (UN Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2006/2). Chapter 4: Minorities in Development 63