David Astor, editor and proprietor of the Observer newspaper, was troubled by the regular reports of ethnic persecution crossing his desk. Astor brought together a small group of journalists, academics and anti-apartheid campaigners to found MRG with the goal of addressing these issues.
A graduate of a Roma mentoring and capacity building project is appointed as the first Roma presenter on national TV in what was then Czechoslovakia.
At the time of its publishing, “The Armenians” by David Marshall Lang and Christopher J. Walker was one of few accessible accounts of this genocide. It went on to win the UNA Media Peace Prize.
After years of advocacy, in 1992 the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. This was a major step forward for minority rights and demonstrated MRG’s growing influence.
MRG realises the effectiveness of online training and completes its first online course, developed and run for over 600 individuals in 36 countries across 3 continents
MRG wins key legal victory for the Endorois community in Kenya confirming their rights over ancestral lands that have been turned into a game reserve
The World Directory is established as on online database, allowing for more continuous updating and wider readership. The World Directory is now one of MRG’s most used resources.
MRG contributes particularly to the Asian Indigenous input as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is adopted. UNDRIP defines the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples, including their ownership rights to cultural expression, identity, language, employment, health and education .
MRG lobbying contributes to the creation of the UN Working Group on Minorities, which would then transform into Minority Forum. The Forum meets annually, with two working days allocated to thematic discussions and consultations with regional groups.
