UN expert concerned over rising xenophobia worldwide

She calls for urgent action to safeguard progress made in minority rights protection

Expressing concern over the increase in hate crimes against minorities worldwide, a United Nations expert has called for swift guarantees to safeguard achievements and advances in the field of minority rights protection, reports UNB. In her final address to the Human Rights Council in Geneva as Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsák-Ndiaye made the call, said a press statement released by the Office of the High Commissioner for the United Nations Human Rights.
According to the statement, the human rights expert also expressed concern about an alarming increase in hate speech, xenophobic rhetoric and incitement to hatred against minorities worldwide, alongside a rise in extremism and far-right political parties. “In this critical time, we need unequivocal political will, as well as strengthened legislative and institutional frameworks, to help create conditions for cohesive societies where there is unity in diversity,” Izsak-Ndiaye said on Wednesday.
She called on the UN and its member states to consider possible measures to strengthen existing mechanisms to fulfill the promises made to minorities, according to a message the news agency received from Geneva.
Izsak-Ndiaye said: “Democracy requires good and inclusive governance which allows for the pluralism necessary to enable all population groups to preserve and develop their identity on the basis of dignity and rights for all.”
The Special Rapporteur emphasised the importance of accurate data and statistics on minorities for policy making and called for dedicated institutions in charge of minority rights and relations to be established.
She further continued: “The aim would be to close the gaps between the often ambitious policies, legislation, action plans and programmes on minorities and the reality, in which often the actual implementation is lacking.”
Izsak-Ndiaye also pointed out that there were minorities in particularly precarious situations because states refused to recognise them as minorities or even as citizens.
“The existence of an ethnic, religious or linguistic minority in a given state does not depend on decisions of the government but needs to be established by objective criteria,” she stressed.
“Moreover, out of 10 million people deprived of a nationality globally, many, if not most of them belong to minorities. Swift measures are needed to end statelessness so it will not be a further source of stigmatisation for minorities,” she added.
Izsak-Ndiaye urged more efforts to integrate migrants into societies new to them saying: “Feelings of alienation and lack of belonging experienced by migrants on the one hand, and citizens being afraid and feeling threatened on the other, should be met with concerted bridge-building efforts - to enable new minorities to integrate into the social fabric.”
The special rapporteur reminded the Council that 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities as well as the 10thanniversary of the UN Forum on Minority Issues.
These occasions, she said, provided an excellent opportunity to discuss not just progress made so far but also the challenges remaining.
Reflecting on her six-year tenure, the Special Rapporteur concluded: “I was often struck by the general lack of knowledge and understanding by the public about the daily struggles of disadvantaged minorities which was often compounded by denial or negligence on the part of officials.
“Strenuous efforts are needed to enhance awareness-raising, communication, trust-building, inclusion and power-sharing measures to forge a sense of belonging for the different population groups which is a prerequisite for sustainable development, peace, and stability of our societies.

UN expert concerned over rising xenophobia worldwide

She calls for urgent action to safeguard progress made in minority rights protection

Expressing concern over the increase in hate crimes against minorities worldwide, a United Nations expert has called for swift guarantees to safeguard achievements and advances in the field of minority rights protection, reports UNB. In her final address to the Human Rights Council in Geneva as Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsk-Ndiaye made the call, said a press statement released by the Office of the High Commissioner for the United Nations Human Rights. According to the statement, the human rights expert also expressed concern about an alarming increase in hate speech, xenophobic rhetoric and incitement to hatred against minorities worldwide, alongside a rise in extremism and far-right political parties. In this critical time, we need unequivocal political will, as well as strengthened legislative and institutional frameworks, to help create conditions for cohesive societies where there is unity in diversity, Izsak-Ndiaye said on Wednesday. She called on the UN and its member states to consider possible measures to strengthen existing mechanisms to fulfill the promises made to minorities, according to a message the news agency received from Geneva. Izsak-Ndiaye said: Democracy requires good and inclusive governance which allows for the pluralism necessary to enable all population groups to preserve and develop their identity on the basis of dignity and rights for all. The Special Rapporteur emphasised the importance of accurate data and statistics on minorities for policy making and called for dedicated institutions in charge of minority rights and relations to be established. She further continued: The aim would be to close the gaps between the often ambitious policies, legislation, action plans and programmes on minorities and the reality, in which often the actual implementation is lacking. Izsak-Ndiaye also pointed out that there were minorities in particularly precarious situations because states refused to recognise them as minorities or even as citizens. The existence of an ethnic, religious or linguistic minority in a given state does not depend on decisions of the government but needs to be established by objective criteria, she stressed. Moreover, out of 10 million people deprived of a nationality globally, many, if not most of them belong to minorities. Swift measures are needed to end statelessness so it will not be a further source of stigmatisation for minorities, she added. Izsak-Ndiaye urged more efforts to integrate migrants into societies new to them saying: Feelings of alienation and lack of belonging experienced by migrants on the one hand, and citizens being afraid and feeling threatened on the other, should be met with concerted bridge-building efforts - to enable new minorities to integrate into the social fabric. The special rapporteur reminded the Council that 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities as well as the 10thanniversary of the UN Forum on Minority Issues. These occasions, she said, provided an excellent opportunity to discuss not just progress made so far but also the challenges remaining. Reflecting on her six-year tenure, the Special Rapporteur concluded: I was often struck by the general lack of knowledge and understanding by the public about the daily struggles of disadvantaged minorities which was often compounded by denial or negligence on the part of officials. Strenuous efforts are needed to enhance awareness-raising, communication, trust-building, inclusion and power-sharing measures to forge a sense of belonging for the different population groups which is a prerequisite for sustainable development, peace, and stability of our societies.