tag:www.imadr.org,2008:/minority//34 2008-04-10T08:45:08Z Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.imadr.org,2008:/minority//34.664 2008-04-10T07:50:44Z 2008-04-10T08:45:08Z

In January 2008, the Government of Sri Lanka abrogated the ceasefire agreement (CFA) signed in 2002 between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), throwing the country back into the era of civil war both in name and reality. In the latest issue of IMADR's newsletter "Connect," President Nimalka Fernando presents her views and prospects about the situation.

On January 16, 2008, the Government of Sri Lanka abrogated the ceasefire agreement (CFA) signed in 2002 between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), throwing the country back into the era of civil war both in name and reality.]]> here (PDF172KB)]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2008:/minority//34.616 2008-01-18T10:18:05Z 2008-04-08T07:01:42Z

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tag:www.imadr.org,2007:/dev/july2007/minority//34.390 2007-08-30T09:53:50Z 2007-11-14T01:53:16Z

It is believed that the Sinti and Roma, who live all over Europe, originated from Northern India. Depending on where they live, they have maintained their own culture and traditions. The Sinti and Roma have been discriminated against and persecuted throughout history, and it is said that half a million were sent to concentration camps such as Auschwitz and massacred.

IMADR partner organization Zentralrat Deutscher Sinti and Roma/Central Council of German Sinti and Roma The Central Council was founded in February 1982 by 11 associations of the Laender and regional associations of German Sinti and Roma. It is headed by Romani Rose, also a director of IMADR. It is located in Heidelberg and is ]]> connected to the Documentation and Cultural Center of German Sinti and Roma. Since its foundation, the organization has worked to research and document the genocide against Sinti and Roma. Since the beginning of the nineties it has objected to the discriminatory and dangerously racist reporting about Sinti and Roma in many German newspapers and public television, and has demanded anti-discrimination provisions in the media law. The Central Council demands that the approximately 70,000 German Sinti and Roma be recognized as a national minority and that their human rights are protected. tag:www.imadr.org,2007:/dev/july2007/minority//34.389 2007-08-30T09:52:45Z 2007-11-17T03:43:46Z

In February 2002, after nearly 20 years of civil war, the people of Sri Lanka came close to achieving peace with the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the Singhalese-majority government and Tamil Tiger rebels. Since 2005, however, the country lies on the brink of a civil war again.

Resettlement and development for victims of conflict, refugees and internally displaced persons IMADR-AC works to empower victims of conflict, refugees and internally displaced persons (especially women) by providing aid and resettlement support. It has built infrastructure such as childcare centers and toilets in areas, including Polonnaruwa and Dambulla. Peace-building and human rights advocacy IMADR-AC surveys the living conditions of the internally displaced, and the violence endured by those living in border regions. This is done in cooperation with grassroots organizations based in the northern city of Jaffna, and the eastern city of Trincomalee. Throughout this process, dialogue between ethnic groups is developed through networking and organizing women's groups in villages that can serve as bases for peace activities.]]> Promotion and protection of the rights of Sri Lankan migrant women workers IMADR-AC monitors human rights violations against Sri Lankan migrant women, helps them address those violations, and works towards the protection of their rights. Work is also conducted in organizing and promoting the participation of migrant women workers at a political level, in decision-making organizations. Advocacy regarding discrimination based on work and descent. Working with Tamil plantation worker groups, IMADR-AC is involved in surveying and advocacy activities regarding discrimination based on work and descent in Sri Lanka. Promoting the use of international human rights mechanisms IMADR-AC supports the use of international human rights mechanisms by minorities and victims of discrimination. It has published translations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Sinhalese and Tamil, and conducted training using those materials. Supporting the empowerment of indigenous Vedda communities IMADR-AC builds close relationships with the indigenous peoples and groups working towards development and provides support to dairy farmers. Tsunami aid and reconstruction efforts]]> tag:www.imadr.org,2007:/dev/july2007/japan/minority//23.318 2007-08-30T09:38:15Z 2008-01-11T10:39:21Z

There are groups of people all around th...

There are groups of people all around the world who differ from the majority in many aspects, including culture, history, language, religion, and roots (including cultural identification and descent). IMADR defines “minorities” as those whose civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are not being adequately protected, and groups and members of groups whose rights have been taken away from them. Minorities are not simply groups with few members, nor are they limited to just ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities. We want to emphasise, in a broad sense, that minorities are those that are in some way oppressed or marginalized within society. The human rights of minorities are defined in United Nations' human rights conventions. However, in recent years, we find ourselves moving backwards, despite this international consensus regarding human rights and multiculturalism. Particularly after 9/11, people who are considered "different" are being subject to harsh controls and exclusionary systems, all in name of peace, security, and “counter-terrorism.” IMADR focuses on recognizing the existence of and protecting the rights of minorities, working on all levels - grassroots, national and international - towards the realization of a true multicultural society. IMADR works with minority groups and partner organizations from all over the world to help the voices of minorities reach not only their own governments, but the international community at large, so that a system can be created whereby those who have been discriminated against can receive redress, and are protected from it happening again. IMADR also strives to forge ties between groups and peoples that extend beyond borders, facilitating joint activities to protect the rights of minorities. On an international level, IMADR is calling for the clear inclusion of issues surounding minorities at UN-level discussions, as well as encouraging minorities themselves to make use of international human rights standards in their own countries. tag:www.imadr.org,2007:/dev/july2007/minority//34.384 2007-07-23T05:39:32Z 2007-12-03T07:04:23Z

IMADR is pleased to support the Mobile E...

IMADR is pleased to support the Mobile Exhibition entitled ''The Holocaust against the Roma and Sinti and present day racism in Europe,'' hosted by the Documentation and Cultural Center of German Sinti and Roma, sister organization of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, one of IMADR’s founding member organizations. IMADR attended the opening event on January 17, 2006 at the Winston Churchill Building in Strasbourg. This is the first mobile English-language exhibition on the National Socialist genocide against the Sinti and Roma. The prime goal of the exhibition is to examine the holocaust against the Roma and Sinti, and, above all, the extent to which Europe as a whole was involved. The comprehensive final part of the exhibition focuses on present-day racist discrimination against the Sinti and Roma. UN Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor at the opening of the exhibition in New York (January 30, 2007) Following the official opening in Strasburg, the exhibition toured Hungary (Budapest and Pécs) and the Czech Republic (Prague and Brno). Preparations are underway to include further venues in Poland, the Ukraine, the Netherlands and Norway. The exhibition was recently part of the program of the United Nations Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2007, and was presented at the United Nations headquarters in New York in January/February 2007. The commemorative event was attended by a delegation of Roma and Sinti representatives, who presented an appeal to the UN Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor asking the UN to further its engagement on behalf of the 12 million Roma and Sinti in Europe. Members of the delegation included Johan Weisz (Holocaust survivor from the Netherlands), Jacques Delfeld (Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Germany), Roman Kwiatkowski (Roma Association of Poland), Yuliya Kondur (Roma Women Fund Chirikli, Ukraine) and Romani Rose (Documentation and Cultural Centre of German Sinti and Roma, Germany). Detailed information on the exhibition can be found here (external link).]]>