Human Rights: Ensuring rights of minority and indigenous children

Personal testimonies led to an intense and passionate dialogue at the opening of the Consultation on Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Issues, hosted by UNICEF in New York recently. Several speakers related stories of their own struggles, highlighting the critical need for increased awareness of the rights of indigenous and minority populations.

There are some 5,000 ethnic groups in the world, and more than 200 countries have significant minority ethnic or religious communities. Almost 900 million people belong to groups that experience disadvantages as a result of their minority standing.

Exclusion in all its forms is a common thread for both indigenous people and minority groups. The risk of exclusion from essential services and from protection is very high for indigenous and minority children, and discrimination on the basis of ethnicity often deprives them of opportunities for growth and development.

Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
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