Visit the Minority Voices online newsroom www.minorityvoices.org for stories and multimedia content from minorities and indigenous communities around the world. Follow us www.twitter.com/ minorityrights www.facebook.com/ minorityrights Author Nicole Girard is Programme Coordinator for the Asia component of MRG’s Global Advocay Programme. She has been researching and writing on minority issues for nearly a decade. Contents 4 The UN Declaration on Minorities 12 Rights in Action 18 Using the Declaration: Suggestions for change Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide and to promote cooperation and understanding between communities. Our activities are focused on international advocacy, training, publishing and outreach. We are guided by the needs expressed by our worldwide network of partner organizations which represent minorities and indigenous peoples. MRG works with over 150 organizations in over 50 countries. Our governing Council, which meets twice a year, has members from 10 different countries. MRG has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). MRG is registered as a charity and a company limited by guarantee under English law. Registered as Minority Rights Group Charity no. 282305 A company limited by guarantee in the UK no. 1544957 Cover: A Uighur girl waits for her teacher to arrive at an English school in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China. Chloe Dewe Mathews/Panos. Back cover: A Dalit woman sits in the doorway of her house in Jangpura, New Delhi, India. Mikkel Ostergaard/Panos. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole resonsibility of MRG and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.