High level side event on 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities

Human Rights Council 34th Session

Statement by Kate Gilmore,UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

Geneva, 28 February 2017

A quarter century ago, ethnic tension and aggressive nationalism were on the rise in many parts of the world, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a long and deadly conflict erupted in 1992. The devastating consequences exacted on minorities spurred renewed energy and urgency for strengthening of the international human rights standards as these apply to minorities. In December of that year, the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, recognizing that protection of minorities and their human rights is both a conflict-prevention and a human rights imperative.

You cannot be a minority person. There is no version of being a human being that makes one of us less by birth than another of us. Yet, 25 years later, around the world, we witness again an upsurge in inter-ethnic tension, with those whose identities are not shared by larger groups being subjected to hate speech and attacks, being blocked from the ballot box, citizenship and legal remedies.

Public advocacy in favour of xenophobia and the demonizing of minority groups is common, both on and off-line, the toxic tide of hate washing over targets ranging from the Roma to people of African descent; from Yezidis to Rohingya to stateless persons.

The case for stronger, less equivocal, leadership for the human rights of National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic minorities is clear as should be the willingness to step up action to protect those rights both in law and practice. Yet, political discourse of many leaders argues in favour of the reverse. Yesterday, the High Commissioners called them out as reckless political profiteers: those who claim that inter-ethnic tension should be addressed not through enhanced protection of rights, but by curbing minority rights.

Twisted logic, false assumptions, bigotry and prejudice have no place in public life or in public policy. The Universal Declaration and other human rights standards make this clear and the evidence in fact affirms their wisdom:

• Minority rights are not additional or special human rights. Instead, they contextualize broader human rights, and position the right to participation and non-discrimination as key leverage points for enjoyment of all human rights enjoyed by minorities. Absent this application of rights for minorities public policies and laws may feed discrimination and undermine the rights to enjoy culture, to profess a religion, or to use one’s language;
• Protection of minority rights helps build cohesive societies – it does not fuel separatism but is a key ingredient of effective efforts to prevent radicalization and violent extremism. Societies rooted in inclusion are more stable and more vibrant – for this, recognition of languages and cultures must not be the prerogative only of the dominant ethnic, religious or linguistic group. Minority rights and social integration are not in contest. Smart integration of communities reinforces minority rights and vice-versa. This is not a zero sum game.
• The right to enjoy minority culture is to be upheld in a manner that upholds too all other human rights and thus offer no protection of practices that undermine other human rights. Respect for women’s human rights for example, cannot be discarded because of a particular cultural or religious tradition and must be an integral part of our work on minorities.

The Minorities Declaration is short but its call to equality is powerful. Its full implementation is in the interest of both majorities and minorities. We must all embrace and promote its principles – which should find their home in our conflict prevention and peacebuilding work and in our efforts to prevent violent extremism. And they are the key that can unlock the SDG’s commitment of leaving no one behind – by leaving no one out.

The UN Human rights office is bringing these insights to our partners ranging from NHRIs to UNCTs, including as the coordinator of the UN Network on Racial Discrimination and Minorities. Austria has shown great leadership in advancing minority rights here at the Human Rights Council, including by strongly supporting the UN Forum on Minority Issues and the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues.

We need more such champions, member states and other stakeholders, to make minority rights a priority and help link our work for the Declaration’s implementation with inspiring grass root movements that are standing up for human rights for all, including for minorities.

Discrimination against minorities is no acceptable, the declaration means it is inexcusable. We must step forward, stand up and speak out for, and with, minorities. We must do so inclusively, diversely, not only when we share the at issue but for the rights of other minorities too.

Let us mark this anniversary with a renewed commitment to stand up together – stand up for the inclusion of all minorities, specifically for those of which we are not a part, and do all we can to protect their rights, wherever and whenever they are at risk.