Minority Rights Group
 |
|
| Founded | 1960s |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Focus |
Minority rights Indigenous rights |
| Location | |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
| Website |
minorityrights.org minorityvoices.org minorityrights.wordpress.com facebook.com/minorityrights twitter.com/minorityrights |
Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is an international human rights organisation founded with the objective of working to secure rights for ethnic, national, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples around the world. Their headquarters are in London, with offices in Budapest and Kampala. MRG has an international governing Council that meets twice a year. 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.
The organisation was set up in the 1960s by a group of activists and academics "who feel a special concern that the rights of minorities to preserve and develop their cultural integrity are being infringed in many countries ... the MRG has been established to protect the rights of minorities to co-exist with majorities, by objective study and consistent international public exposure of violations of fundamental rights as defined by the UN Charter". Its first director was David Astor, editor and proprietor of The Observer newspaper at the time.
MRG raises funds for its work from individuals, trusts and foundations, governments, and the European Union. All of MRG's publications, films and databases are available for free from the website but the organisation does encourage anyone using them to make a donation to support the work of the organisation for future research, advocacy and support to partners.
MRG works with around 150 partner organisations around the world, providing education and training to help them secure their rights in society. It lobbies governments and the United Nations alongside and behalf of minorities. MRG publishes reports used by activists worldwide to educate their communities, highlight issues in the media and put pressure on governments to create better conditions for minorities and indigenous peoples. MRG’s publications are aimed to be used as campaigning documents that expose the current situation minorities and indigenous peoples live in, give historical context and offer strong recommendations for change.
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