Economic Exclusion and Discrimination: The Experiences of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples
About this ebook
Non-discrimination is one of the most fundamental human rights recognized in international law and most national constitutions, yet discrimination against minorities persists. This implies huge costs for individuals and communities that are discriminated against and society in general.
Although, as the authors of this paper point out, there are difficulties over definitions and data limitations, there is evidence to show that – across diverse regions – minorities and indigenous peoples experience higher levels of poverty, less access to education, health care and basic services, and have fewer employment opportunities than the general population. Hence minorities and indigenous peoples are more likely to suffer economic – and social and political – exclusion than other groups.
Development actors do not well understand the relationship between discrimination and poverty. This paper argues that discrimination is an important element in economic exclusion and must be addressed to establish sustainable development.
About the author
Patricia Justino is a research fellow at the Poverty Research Unit Sussex, University of Sussex, Brighton. She is an economist specializing in the analysis of poverty, inequality and redistribution in developing countries, the economics of conflict in developing countries, the effects of trade liberalization on household poverty, and the measurement of social inequality
Julie Litchfield is Director of the Poverty Research Unit Sussex, Lecturer in Economics at the University of Sussex, Brighton, Sussex, and a Research Associate of the Distributional Analysis Research Programme, STICERD, London School of Economics. Her main current research is on the impact of trade reforms and trade shocks on household poverty dynamics, funded by DFID. She has also recently worked as a consultant for the World Bank, FAO, IFAD, AfDB and DFID.
Minority Rights Group is the leading human rights organization working with ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, and indigenous peoples worldwide.
We work with ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, and indigenous peoples to secure their rights and promote understanding between communities. We are guided by the needs expressed by our worldwide network of over 300 partner organizations in more than 60 countries. Together, we challenge power structures that exclude and silence those who are different. We understand how age, class, gender, sexuality and disability can have multiplying impacts on discrimination for minorities.
Minority Rights Group is an international non-governmental organization with an international governing Council that meets twice a year. We have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and observer status with the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights. Minority Rights Group is also registered with the Organization of American States. MRG is registered as a charity and a company limited by guarantee under English law: registered charity no. 282305, limited company no. 1544957.
