In a context of rapid growth, an increasing proportion of minorities and indigenous peoples are now living in urban areas. Under the right conditions minority and indigenous communities have contributed to the growth, development and diversity of their cities. However, the concerns of minorities and indigenous peoples have yet to be mainstreamed into urban policy to the same degree.
The report brings together thematic essays on conflict, gender and participation, regional overviews from around the world, and the Peoples under Threat Index 2015. It offers a global perspective as it seeks to answer: how can we better understand the challenges and causes of discrimination against, and marginalisation of, minorities and indigenous peoples in urban environments, as well as propose solutions and strategies of prevention that can truly work in practice?
While there is increasing recognition of the added disadvantage that women, children, and persons with disabilities frequently experience in cities, awareness of the particular issues affecting minority and indigenous communities – who often feel these broader urban problems more acutely – is still limited. Conventional poverty reduction measures alone may be insufficient in addressing these issues.
Case studies and examples illustrate drivers of urban migration (better livelihoods, forced displacement from communal lands, and conflict), threats to established communities (gentrification and urban development), and the pressures of assimilation threatening minority and indigenous identities. They also highlight positive social and political outcomes minority and indigenous communities have achieved, as well as the substantial benefits their inclusion can bring to entire urban populations.
Inclusive and well managed cities offer the possibility of improved political participation, community activism and greater freedoms for minority and indigenous communities. Rights activists need to develop a better understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities that cities pose, city planners and policy makers must make greater efforts to acknowledge and include them in municipal political organisations, local labour markets and urban design. A range of recommendations are made, with strong emphasis on participation and respect for self-identification of own cultural change through urban life including:
- Participatory policy development and impact assessments with affected communities
- Legislative reform and monitoring tools for reducing discrimination within cities
- Collection of disaggregated data to offer more insight into situation of minorities and indigenous peoples
- Further research to create a strong evidence-base
The volume concludes with the Peoples under Threat index 2015. It calculates risk based on a number of indicators including current conflict type, population flight and group division, governance, and the OECD country risk classification. Syria currently ranks first, with a number of other countries such as Ukraine, China, Libya and Central African Republic rising dramatically through the ranks over the past 12 months.
