Statement by Valentin Zellweger, Vice-President of the Council, to the 10th session of the Forum on Minority Issues

30 November 2017

Mister Chairperson,
High Commissioner,
Distinguished delegates and participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the President of the Human Rights Council, it is a great pleasure for me to open this tenth session of the Forum on Minority Issues on “Minority youth: towards diverse and inclusive societies”.

At the outset, I would like to warmly welcome and congratulate Mr Tarik Ibrahim Hassan Kurdi, who has kindly accepted the important task of chairing this session of the Forum.  I am convinced that his wealth of experience and expertise will guide and inspire the work of this session, which intends to address, inter alia, good practices and challenges regarding the active engagement and contribution of minority youth to the promotion of peaceful and diverse societies.

I would like also to welcome Dr. Fernand de Varennes and extend my congratulations for his appointment as Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, whose mandate includes guiding the work of this important Forum and preparing its annual sessions. I wish to take this opportunity to warmly thank Dr. de Varennes’ predecessor, Ms. Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, for her commitment and work and for her valuable support to the Forum. I also welcome to this Forum the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake; the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Ambassador Lamberto Zannier; and all the representatives from Member States, United Nations specialized agencies, human rights mechanisms and bodies, international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations, academics and experts.

This year, we not only commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Forum – this important platform for dialogue and exchange on good practices and challenges in the promotion and protection of the rights of all minorities around the world – but also the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The interactive, inclusive and universal character of this Forum is the backbone of its strength and in it lies the heart of its potential. A potential that can be fully realized with the relentless commitment of all those actively engaged in the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities.

The drive for forward thinking and new ideas, experiences and proposals to address gaps and challenges, will be reinforced by this year’s theme, which will focus on the needs, priorities and empowerment of youth around the world, and in particular minority youth. With 1.2 billion youth in 2015, today’s generation of youth is the largest the world has ever known. By 2030, the target date for the sustainable development goals, the number of youth is projected to grow by 7 per cent, to nearly 1.3 billion. Youth has to be considered as a key resource and driving force in society and as an initiator of positive change. Young members of minority groups need to be considered and treated as equal members of their societies, and to be provided with opportunities, appropriate tools and space for their effective political and social participation. In the current context of rapid technological developments and humanitarian and environmental challenges, there is a need for comprehensive responses by all relevant actors, including States, the UN system, civil society organizations and the private sector, at the local, national, regional and international levels, to effectively address the multiple challenges faced by youth, and in particular minority youth today, such as discrimination, exclusion and inadequate political and social participation, unemployment and barriers to access quality education and to appropriate physical and mental healthcare among others.

The Human Rights Council has for many years actively engaged in minority issues, notably through critical resolutions renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and creating this Forum.

In addition, in 2015 and 2017 the Human Rights Council adopted by consensus resolutions on “youth and human rights”, underlining the important role that youth can play in the promotion of peace, sustainable development and human rights, and the importance of the active and wide participation of youth in decision-making. Moreover, in September 2016, the Human Rights Council convened an expert panel discussion on youth and human rights, which identified challenges, good practices and lessons learned.

Then, in November 2016, the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, which was also established by the Human Rights Council, convened its first session with the theme “Widening the democratic space: the role of youth in public decision-making”. Participants raised concerns about gaps in the protection of the human rights of young people in all regions. They also called on States to abide by their international obligations and to display strong political will to reduce exclusion and ensure accountability for the implementation of youth rights without discrimination, particularly for the most excluded and marginalized young people, including minority and migrant youth.

I would like conclude by reiterating the Human Rights Council’s deep appreciation for the tireless work of civil society organizations and human rights defenders around the world, and the Human Rights Council’s commitment to protect all those individuals who cooperate with the United Nations and its mechanisms against any act of intimidation or reprisal.

Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish you all a fruitful dialogue over the next two days.

Thank you.