were summarised in a report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues published just over a decade ago. To that should be added the increased risks and opportunities of the digital world and, sadly, an increasing trend of dominant groups targeting and scapegoating minorities giving them little choice but to defend themselves, seek refuge or endure existential threats. I wish here to recall the then Special Rapporteur’s recommendations which remain still valid and hardly implemented. Madam Chairperson, over the course of generations, the world has catalogued the terrible injuries and losses of minorities, some of which we heard mentioned this morning. Positively, our knowledge, knowhow, institutions and mechanisms have modestly improved as have applicable norms and standards in number and detail. It would be disingenuous to claim we do not yet understand the problem, or even that we have no norms or tools through which to address the challenges. We know that systematic or systemic oppression or exclusion of minorities – of creation of grievances or of failure to respond to legitimate needs, interests or aspirations – generates conflict as does unrestrained abuse by dominant communities or the State. We even know fairly well what to do and how to do it with a view to reducing tensions, resolving disputes or preventing them in the first place. The problem is a failure of political will to do the right thing – to apply the norms and standards and to mobilise the required resources. And, to this I must add, a failure of mandated institutions to act always in fulfilment of their mandates with sufficient drive or urgency to say or do what is needed. At the international level, this Forum is itself woefully inadequate for the magnitude of the evident challenge. Even today we witnessed what might be seen by some as performative statements delivered by high officials who remain silent and passive in the face of major cases. For what is the meaning of the right of minorities, first of all, to exist – and not be subject to genocide or its risk – when the Special Adviser of the Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide chooses, for example, never to address the situation of the Uyghurs … preferring instead to focus on weak States and largely African ones. We are living in an era of mounting cases featuring the evils of systemic racism, extreme intolerance and nationalism and increasingly shameless violations of fundamental human rights not to mention minority rights. There are too many to name and in all parts of the world. But these must be named and we must do a better job to maximise the normative instruments and modest institutional tools that have been so painstakingly developed. And these must be deployed against the root causes of conflicts involving minorities when and wherever they appear. Madam Chairperson, I conclude by offering three suggestions: First: Minority rights should be widely promoted and, to this end, a Decade on the Issues and Rights of Minorities should be adopted by the UN coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Minorities. Second: Knowledge and know-how regarding minority issues and rights should be pro-actively mainstreamed within and throughout the UN system, and promoted similarly amongst and within regional and other intergovernmental organisations. And, third: Minority experts should be employed as analysts and advisers and deployed within every UN peace operation and special political mission. I believe these and other steps may help stem the tide of conflicts involving minorities and create at least the prospect of greater peace, stability and sustainable development for minorities and majorities alike throughout the world. Thank You. Page 2 of 2