1 December 2022

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the General Assembly held a high-level meeting to encourage member states to recommit to the protection of minorities.

During this meeting, we assessed the progress and setbacks on the implementation of the Declaration, identified constraints and achievements, and set priorities for the future.

Despite differences, there was broad consensus around one uniting idea:

Minority issues are usually at the heart of conflicts because the underlying causes of clashes almost always have to do with the violation of their rights.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The respect and implementation of minority rights require a genuine, honest conversation, and involvement of government institutions, all relevant stakeholders including the United Nations.

We should not shy away from what we know to be facts:

We know that women who belong to minorities are subject to intersecting forms of discrimination, multiplying their vulnerability to violence.

We know that the social media platforms are ideal breeding ground for hate speech targeting minorities and exacerbating their vulnerability, including to suffer hate crime.

We know that 75% of the world’s stateless belong to minorities.

We know that minorities are underrepresented in positions of power and in decision-making.

 

But during the September High-Level Meeting, we also showcased some success stories, some best practices.

Quotas in national parliaments.

Zero tolerance policies against incitement to hatred.

Access to quality education in minority languages.

 

But we need to do a lot more to truly implement this Declaration.

Member States made commitments and pledges to protect the rights of minorities first and foremost at home, in their countries.

These pledges included:

· Nurturing diversity and inclusion through education

· Ensuring effective participation of minorities in decision-making

· Implementing new national plans against discrimination

· Supporting the preservation of minority languages

· Actively promoting respect for cultural, religious and linguistic diversity of all persons

I sincerely commend Member States for taking on these efforts.

And I ask them to act with a sense of urgency to improve the protection of minorities.

Will we wait another 30 years to meaningfully implement the Declaration?

To uphold the most basic human rights for all?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our world faces intersecting and interlocking crises. But how does that impact people with intersecting identities?

All too often, minorities are made to feel invisible.

This status quo will change only when our mindset changes.

I urge all stakeholders to seize the momentum generated by the high-level meeting and invest that energy into implementing practical solutions for the protection of all minorities.

 

The full implementation of the Declaration is in the interest of us all.

Thank you.