The first MRN conference
The first international conference of the Minority Research Network explored a theme that had not received adequate attention, more particularly the interaction between socio-economic participation of minorities and their right to respect for their own, separate identity. While prohibitions to wear the headscarf at school and/or at work and being fired because of unauthorized absences due to religious observances are primarily seen as interferences with the right to identity of the minorities concerned, it should equally be analysed as an important reduction in the enjoyment of their socio-economic rights.
In the distinctive sessions, different dimensions of this interaction were discussed, each time from a rich variety of disciplines as well as geographical backgrounds. The high degree of diversity of the overall group of speakers and participants made for rich discussions in which different viewpoints were exposed and 'interacted'.
The following overview of the program allows one to access both the abstract of the presentations as the PPT. This website also gives access to a report on the conference, structured per session.
Finally, an edited volume edited by Kristin Henrard is forthcoming by the beginning of 2012. This volume will be part of Brill's Series on Group and Minority Rights.
Day 1 - 27 October |
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Kristin Henrard: Initiator MRN |
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dr Christian Courtis | Representative of the office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights |
Erliha Bičakčić | Adviser to the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights |
Jose-Maria Arraiza | Senior Legal Adviser of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities |
Ioannis Dimitrakopulos | Fundamental Rights Agency of the EU and head of the FRA department for Equality and Citizen’s Rights |
Mark Lattimer | Minority Rights Group International director |
2 - THEORETICAL SESSION |
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Two presentations on the right to identity in relation to Socio-Economic participation | |
Gabor Kardos (Hungary): | The Right to Identify a Minority from International Legal Point of View |
Julie Ringelheim (Belgium): | From Identity to Inclusion: Social and Economic Rights in a Minority Protection Perspective |
Elizabeth Craig (UK): | Employment Monitoring and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: Emerging Tensions and Challenges |
Pap Andras (Hungary): | |
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Day 2 - 28 October |
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3 - SESSION ON LINGUISTIC MINORITIES |
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How language issues impact on socio-economic participation | |
Tove Skutnabb Kangas (Denmark) and Ajit Mohanty (India): | |
Robert Phillipson (Denmark): | |
Maria Lundberg and Zhou Yong (Norwegian Centre on Human Rights): | Linguistic minorities in China and socio-economic participation |
4 - SESSION ON RELIGIOUS MINORITIES | |
How religious issues impact on socio-economic participation | |
Prakash Shah (UK, Kenya): | Partners, participants or pariahs? The significance of socio-economic rights for religious minorities in British legal systems |
Jeroen Temperman (Netherlands): | Religious & Non-Religious Minorities, State Neutrality and Access to Public School Educatio |
Reem Mazzawi (Israel): | |
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Day 3 - 29 October | |
5 - SESSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES |
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How way of life issues impact on socio-economic participation | |
Meghna Guhathakurta (Bangladesh) will show and comment on a short movie on the lack of economic growth/development of particular indigenous communities. | |
Lee Swepston (Switzerland, USA): | |
Felix Ndahinda (Netherlands, Rwanda): | Disempowerment of marginalized ethno-cultural communities in Africa |
Baogang He (Australia, China): | |
Christian Courtis (Switzerland, Argentina): | Socio-economic rights of indigenous peoples in Latin America |
Korir Singoei (Kenya): | |
6 - POSTER SESSION | |
Kostis Tsitselikis (Greece): | A surviving treaty: The Lausanne minority protection in Greece and Turkey |
Eugenia Relano-Pastor (Spain): | Participation of Muslim minorities in the Spanish mainstream society |
Robert Dunbar (UK): | |
Tarlach Mc Gonagle | |
