Discrimination against minorities

Discrimination against minorities exists on racial, religious, linguistic, ideological, political or economic grounds and may take place in education, employment, housing and public services. Minority groups may be barred from certain schools or segregated in their own, by practice or by choice, which may be less adapted for conditions in the society at large. Their educational level, prejudice and fear of certain ideologies work against minority groups in recruitment for jobs, thus barring them from obtaining adequate housing, nourishment, clothing, etc. Minorities may be prevented from taking part in certain activities by law; in the case of religious sects, their services may be banned. Small nations may suffer from foreign debt problems and be discriminated against by donor or investing countries on the strength of their political ideology and economic system. Small island states and territories may be dominated by an outside power militarily, politically or economically.