About minorities and human rights

All countries in the world include persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, enriching the diversity of their societies. Minorities face multiple forms of discrimination resulting in marginalization and exclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a particularly devastating impact on the situation of minorities. 

To achieve effective participation of minorities and end their exclusion, we must embrace diversity through the promotion and implementation of international human rights law and standards. 

In his most recent report to the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner urged that:

• States should enact laws which prohibit all forms of discrimination on the basis of all grounds recognized in international law in all areas of life regulated by law, provide for the effective enforcement of the right to non-discrimination and mandate positive action measures to address historic or structural discrimination.
• States must protect all people and places of worship and invest in education initiatives that foster inclusion and equal rights.
• Political and religious leaders must unequivocally condemn hate speech, advance dialogue and make clear that violence is unacceptable. Digital platforms should implement content-moderation policies that align with international human rights standards. All stakeholders must work together to stem the tide of hatred and promote tolerance, mutual understanding and respect.
• To inform legislative and policy efforts, reliable and disaggregated data on incidents of hate speech and hate crime provide an essential baseline. More must be done to ensure that incidents are reflected in official statistics and that all countries have the systems and methodology needed to record disaggregated data.
• Combating discrimination and inequality through the promotion of human rights should be central to all policy decisions. This involves prioritizing the protection and enhancement of meaningful participation for marginalized groups, including minorities, ensuring the comprehensive fulfilment of human rights and fostering environments where inequalities can be diminished.

(See A/HRC/58/34, Released on : 10 Feb 2025
Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities - Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
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Read more about minorities and human rights.

OHCHR’s work on minority rights

Minority rights are an integral part of the United Nations’ work for the promotion and protection of human rights, sustainable human development, peace and security. OHCHR has a leading role within the UN system in this respect. 

OHCHR’s current Management Plan 2024-2027 commits the organization to supporting States to enact comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and develop independent equality bodies; to repeal or reform laws, policies and practices that are discriminatory, notably with respect to minorities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTIQ+ people, and people on the move; and to expand our human rights-based guidance on combating hate speech in line with international human rights law.

OHCHR supports the participation of minorities in its flagship Minorities Fellowship Programme and its senior fellowship programme. We also support minority artists human rights defenders through a variety of programming, including an annual art contest.  OHCHR’s efforts also include work to support memorialization of dark chapters of minority history, and their impact on the present. We also run particular programming on the countering religious hatred. 

OHCHR is co-chair of the UN Network on Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. “The Network”, created in 2012, brings together more than 20 UN departments, agencies, programmes and funds, enhancing cooperation and dialogue on minorities across the UN system. Through this work, OHCHR addresses issues of racial discrimination and the protection of national or ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities, including issues of multiple, aggravated and intersecting forms of discrimination, by promoting the mainstreaming and integration of minority rights across all pillars and activities of the United Nations. 

In addition, we work to further the rights of minorities worldwide through the implementation of strategic activities, and by providing support to the Forum on Minority Issues and to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues. 

Learn more about how we advance the protection and empowerment of minorities.