Minorities in the Context of Forced Displacement in the South East European Region
erschienen in der Publikation "The Stability Pact for South East Europe - Dawn of an Era of Regional Co-operation" (ISBN: 3-901328-75-0) - November 2002
Autor(en):
Udo Janz
9 Seiten (24 KB)
Schlagworte zu diesem Beitrag:
Politik, Flüchtlingspolitik, Flüchtlinge, Bosnien Herzegowina, Minderheiten
Abstract:
The UN Special Rapporteur for the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, F. Capotori, offered a formulation of a definition of minorities in 1979: a minority must be a "non-dominant" group; its members must possess "ethnic, religious or linguistic characteristics differing from those of the rest of the population", and they must also show, if only implicitly, a sense of solidarity, directed towards preserving their culture, traditions, religion or language".
Within the region of the former SFRY, and particularly after the armed conflict of the 1990s, the definition of minorities has a slightly different connotation: in this context, minorities are non-dominant groups that may, nevertheless, be a numerical majority in the country.
Within BiH, the term "minority" is e.g. used to describe groups of persons who are in a numerical minority situation in a particular location or municipality, regardless of their status elsewhere in BiH.
If, for example, a member of one of the three constituent peoples of BiH (Bosniak, Serb and Croat) returns to his/her place of origin, this is generally referred to as minority returns as s/he is returning to a place where the majority are of a different background. This particular definition of minorities applies also to other countries in the Balkan region.
UNHCR is mandated under Annex 7 of the GFAP to ensure the safe and secure return to their homes of all those who have been displaced during the war, and such is engaged on a daily basis in facilitating "minority returns".
Within the region of the former SFRY, and particularly after the armed conflict of the 1990s, the definition of minorities has a slightly different connotation: in this context, minorities are non-dominant groups that may, nevertheless, be a numerical majority in the country.
Within BiH, the term "minority" is e.g. used to describe groups of persons who are in a numerical minority situation in a particular location or municipality, regardless of their status elsewhere in BiH.
If, for example, a member of one of the three constituent peoples of BiH (Bosniak, Serb and Croat) returns to his/her place of origin, this is generally referred to as minority returns as s/he is returning to a place where the majority are of a different background. This particular definition of minorities applies also to other countries in the Balkan region.
UNHCR is mandated under Annex 7 of the GFAP to ensure the safe and secure return to their homes of all those who have been displaced during the war, and such is engaged on a daily basis in facilitating "minority returns".