On the question as to why national minorities were guaranteed places in the Parliament, she said that minorities comprised only 7.5 per cent of the population and were dispersed all over Croatia.

Regarding the eight seats reserved for minority delegates in Parliament, the Committee wished to know how the Government guaranteed those seats and how many women from ethnic groups were represented in Parliament.

(a) Legal situation of national minorities and other ethnic groups traditionally resident in Germany

Compared with data for the majority population, in some parts of Republika Srpska, over 50 per cent of the minority population is poor, while in the parts of the Federation with a Croat majority, 15.6 per cent of minority households belong to this category.

Ms. Klajner (Croatia) said that the 22 national minorities in Croatia all had the right to participate in elections and between them had eight guaranteed seats in Parliament.

In addition, the Constitutional Law on National Minorities provided for the participation of minorities at the local and regional levels.

Croatia's legislation was well developed with regard to national minorities, of which there were many, and included the Constitutional Law on National Minorities, which regulated national minority rights.

The law (including March 1992 amendments) provided for the proportional representation of minorities in Government and a special status for districts with a Serb majority.

Members of the majority should always ask themselves how they would feel if the tables were turned and they were in the shoes of the minority.

Human rights situation in ethnic minority areas

In Bosniak majority territories, about 25 per cent of minority households belong to the category of the poor.

Grave statements by political leaders prominent people that express support for affirmation of superiority of a race or an ethnic group, dehumanize and demonize minorities, or condone or justify violence against a minority.

They expressed satisfaction for the special status given to three regions inhabited by persons speaking minority languages, and asked for information on the status of other linguistic minorities elsewhere in Italy.

Of the eight persons occupying the seats reserved for ethnic minorities in the Parliament, only one was a female.

However, in ethnic minority areas, divorce is usually not handled by law but by customs and practices of ethnic minorities.

Education in the areas of the ethnic minority people saw a marked improvement.

Besides, obsolete customs and practices among some ethnic minorities, including child marriage, are impeding the advancement of women.

Women and girls from ethnic minorities still lag behind in terms of empowerment and integration.

The Committee is concerned that there is only one officially recognized minority in Greece, whereas there are other ethnic groups seeking that status.

(i) The Danish minority

IX. SITUATION OF MINORITIES

VI. MINORITY RIGHTS

A specific compensatory policy is in place to assist ethnic minority students.

National minorities numbering 100 could elect a representative on town and municipal councils, while those numbering 300 could elect a national minority council.

Problems in inter ethnic relations arose, and there was a mass exodus of national minorities, especially Russian speakers.

In areas where national minorities predominated, there were ethnic schools, along with ethnic and cultural centres offering language classes and courses on ethnic traditions and ceremonies.

Refusal of the recognition of the needs of minorities by Governments, inadequate laws and policies protecting minorities, discrimination against minorities and intolerance should all be mentioned in this context.

Minorities and indigenous people

National minority languages

V. Minorities

In specifically identified primary and secondary compulsory schools located in the traditional area of settlement of an ethnic group, this right is ensured for every member of the ethnic minority regardless of the number of pupils participating, and in primary and secondary compulsory schools located outside the traditional settlement area minority language instruction is provided where there is a demand, requiring a minimum number of participants which varies between four and nine.

The basic principle is that in each area there are pilots that devote special attention to the position of ethnic minority women.

Articles 13 and 18 on, respectively, limited self rule for districts where members of ethnic and national communities or minorities form a majority, and special rights of representation at the national level, were among several provisions of the Law suspended by the Government in September 1995.

Forty eight Assembly seats are allocated as compensatory seats for minority groups that are unable to meet the electoral quota.

The proportion of ethnic woman teachers and headmasters in remote and ethnic minority areas will also be raised, and education quality in these areas be improved.

The Employment of Minorities (Promotion) Act (SAMEN), which targeted men and women from ethnic minorities, was repealed on 31 December 2003.

Women and minority members

Employment of Minorities (Promotion) Act

Women from ethnic minorities and health care

Non discriminatory selection of participants, e.g. women, children, minorities

Croatia has also signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Support translation of the Guidelines into national and minority languages

There were also theatres for ethnic minorities, and newspapers, magazines and books in minority languages.

The Committee notes with appreciation the State party s intention to ratify the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as well as the European Charter on Regional and Minority Languages.

Europe s Squandered Minority