UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: new report highlights ongoing challenges for minorities’ rights worldwide
A new report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights examines developments in the rights of people belonging to national, ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities, stressing persistent gaps in protection and the need for stronger legal and policy responses.
The report, officially designated A/HRC/61/33, covers developments in minority rights worldwide in 2025 and was prepared pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 55/15. It reviews both progress and ongoing obstacles faced by minorities in accessing their fundamental rights as guaranteed under international human rights law.
Among the key concerns are systemic discrimination and exclusion in civil, political, economic, social, and cultural life, including barriers to equal access to justice, education, employment, and participation in public affairs. The document also highlights continued hostility and intolerance experienced by minority communities, often expressed through hate speech, discriminatory practices, and violence.
The report calls on States to strengthen legislative frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that minorities can fully enjoy their rights without discrimination. It urges enhanced efforts to collect disaggregated data, to better capture the specific conditions of minority groups, and to adopt targeted public policies that address structural inequalities.
The High Commissioner’s Office also emphasises the importance of meaningful participation of minorities in decision-making processes at all levels, as well as the need for education and awareness-raising programmes that promote tolerance, diversity, and inclusion. States are encouraged to engage with civil society and minority representatives in crafting and implementing responsive, rights-based strategies.
The presentation of the report to the Human Rights Council forms part of the Council’s broader follow-up on international standards related to minority rights and reflects ongoing global commitments to combat discrimination and uphold the dignity of all individuals, regardless of background.