A/HRC/40/30 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 37/14 on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, the Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to present an annual report to the Council. The present report contains information on relevant developments in the work of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms, and on the specific strategies adopted and activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at its headquarters and in the field, that contribute to the promotion of and respect for the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. II. Activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and recent developments of human rights bodies and mechanisms A. Early warning mechanisms and protection of minorities 2. OHCHR continued to assist national authorities and other stakeholders in taking steps to prevent or mitigate violations of the human rights of persons belonging to minorities, including by supporting early warning mechanisms and risk assessments and building rapid response capacities. 3. In January 2018, in his report to the Human Rights Council on progress achieved in promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner noted his particular concern regarding numerous incidents of intercommunal violence, attacks and hate speech against minorities during the course of 2017 (A/HRC/37/23, para. 45). That type of violence, in a country that had experienced cycles of extreme violence roughly every 10 years, was deeply troubling, particularly when accompanied by hate speech, misinformation and agitation through social media and political manipulation (ibid., para. 50). 4. In May 2018, the High Commissioner expressed deep alarm at the volatile situation in the Central African Republic, particularly given the worrying incidents of hate speech and incitement to violence on the basis of religion, and the recent killings and attacks in Bangui.1 5. In July 2018, the High Commissioner reported that the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to deteriorate in several regions across the country, with a dramatic impact on civilians. Inter-ethnic and intercommunal violence had also continued in Ituri Province between members of the Hema and Lendu communities, resulting in deaths, the burning of villages and mass displacement. Recently deployed army troops were also alleged to have committed human rights violations, particularly targeting the Lendu community.2 6. At the end of a three-day day visit to Kyrgyzstan in May 2018, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights stressed that fair and equal treatment of ethnic minorities was a prerequisite for a just society. Human rights violations committed by governments, including discrimination among targeted groups, led to a strong sense of alienation and often violence and terrorism. In his meetings with high-ranking Kyrgyz officials, he had stressed the need to ensure that ethnic minorities were fully represented in the civil service, judiciary and law enforcement at both the local and national levels. He 1 2 See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23056&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23316&LangID=E. 3