What are the links between discrimination against ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples and their exclusion from economic life? This issues paper from Minority Rights Group International surveys the various forms of discrimination faced by minority and indigenous populations and analyses the causes of the economic exclusion they experience. It argues that discrimination is a central obstacle to development among these groups and, as such, should be a key concern in policy-making.
No internationally accepted definition of a “minority or indigenous group” exists. However, there are attributes which are characteristic of such populations: a shared ethnic, linguistic, religious or cultural identity, and a status of “non-dominance” within a state. Globally, such groups are more likely to experience poverty and inadequate access to social and political entitlements.
It can be difficult to establish a causal link between discrimination and economic exclusion among minority groups. Since national surveys often neglect or mistakenly classify ethnic groups, there is inadequate data to illustrate the diverse experiences of these populations. However, the growing inequalities between majority and minority groups are themselves proof of policies that discriminate against these latter groups.
A range of socio-economic indicators and political factors point to the relative deprivation of minority and indigenous populations. The marginalisation of these peoples should be a key concern to the development community for a number of reasons.
- The economic exclusion experienced by indigenous and minority groups can be linked to discriminatory practices, such as inadequate funding of local clinics, poor local infrastructure, wage inequalities and non-recognition of land rights.
- Several international treaties assert the obligation of states to respect the right to non-discrimination.
- By giving minority and indigenous groups greater access to socio-economic entitlements and national decision-making, governments will improve these groups’ ability to weather the shocks of economic reform.
- Improving poorer groups’ productiveness and education standards can raise output and GDP across the whole of society.
- Income inequality can promote social discontent and unrest.
- However, there is also a risk of conflict between economic development policies and the rights of minority and ethnic groups. Economic development of minority and indigenous populations must be sensitive to their cultural identities.
A number of recommendations are made to improve data collection and policy targeting by focusing on the difficulties faced by minority and indigenous populations:
- Donors, national statistics offices and government ministries must co-operate to produce larger surveys of minority and indigenous groups. This data should reflect with greater precision the composition of such populations, and the discrimination they face.
- States and international organisations should grant greater recognition to the legal rights of these groups.
- The vulnerability of ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples should be regularly assessed, especially in remote areas.
- Human rights organisations should focus on combating the economic exclusion of minority and indigenous populations, and promoting their access to political participation.
