Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to securing the rights of ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide. Established with the ambition to promote cooperation and intercultural dialogue between diverse communities, MRG advocates for minority rights primarily through international advocacy, training, publishing, and outreach activities. Since its registration in the EU Transparency Register in August 2016, MRG has worked to influence EU policy concerning human rights, minority rights, conflict prevention, and development education, focusing on major EU files such as the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), Fundamental Rights Agency, External Action Service, and Southern Mediterranean policy.
The organization operates out of its head office in London, UK, with an EU liaison office in Brussels, Belgium, aiming to engage with EU institutions and policymakers. MRG’s lobbying efforts concentrate on promoting legal and policy frameworks that protect minorities’ cultural, linguistic, and religious identities and improve their social inclusion. It also works to ensure minorities’ voices are heard in EU external action and neighborhood policies.
MRG’s activities include publishing an annual Minorities and Indigenous Peoples’ Global Trends Report, periodic grassroots-level events in Brussels to elevate minority representatives’ concerns, and maintaining online platforms like the Minority Voices website for news and updates related to minority issues. Though the organization declares no formal alliances or member networks within the EU register, it leverages its extensive history and partnerships with minority communities and international bodies to influence EU decision-making.
Financially, the firm’s declared lobbying costs have remained modest, with recorded expenditures between €0 and €10,000 in recent years. The lobbying team consists of approximately 12 individuals cumulatively accounting for 5.25 full-time equivalents. Despite modest financial declarations, MRG maintains a steady presence in EU advocacy circles, focusing on the collective interests of minorities rather than commercial gain.
