Mediation in Minority Rights: Exploring Possibilities in Hungary

This monograph aims to explain how minority rights related conflicts in Hungary could be most effectively resolved through mediation. This conflict resolution instrument has the potential to reduce strategic and institutionalized discrimination, thereby aiding the process of minorities’ reintegration into society. In more general terms, mediation contributes to the development and more effective implementation of human rights standards. The Roma population experiences serious institutionalized discrimination, which contributes to the intensification of social tensions and to the widening gap between Roma and non-Roma populations. Based on the potential benefits this method offers, I argue that mediation should be added to the applicable tools of the Hungarian Parliamentary Commissioner for National and Ethnic Minority Rights with the mandate to mediate certain minority rights related conflicts between state actors and individuals. I also maintain that within this Office, a Task Force on Minority Conflict Mediation should be established with the ability to mediate minority rights related conflicts between individuals.