minorities are not merely beneficiaries but agents of peace, and their participation strengthens
institutions, legitimizes peace, and fosters deeper societal healing.
Dr. Farah Mihlar framed the discussion within the historical foundations of
international human rights and transitional justice, recalling that both emerged from the
commitment of “never again” after the Holocaust. Despite these aspirations, she noted that
grave violations, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, continue today
in places such as Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza. Against this backdrop, she argued that transitional
justice processes consistently neglect minorities, even though minority groups often bear a
disproportionate share of violence precisely because of their identity and non-dominant status.
Drawing on examples from Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Afghanistan, and Iraq, Mihlar illustrated how
minorities are frequently targeted for atrocities and yet remain invisible in truth-seeking,
judicial accountability, reparations, and memorialization efforts.
She called for a comprehensive minority rights approach to transitional justice, one that
interrogates how identity shapes victimhood, patterns of abuse, and justice demands. Dr. Mihlar
underscored that such an approach must prioritize the core pillars of minority rights - identity,
participation, and non-discrimination - and embed minority perspectives at every stage, from
data collection and mechanism design to implementation of recommendations. She emphasized
that this does not privilege minorities over majorities but instead addresses structural
inequalities and prevents processes from becoming delegitimized or exclusionary.
Dr. Tenzin Dorjee focused on the broader contributions of minorities to society and
how minorities enrich them in countless ways. For example, through cuisine, labor, scientific
innovation, and, most importantly, the minority perspective, which he described as a unique
lens that reveals a society’s true character, its injustices, and its potential.
Dr. Dorjee highlighted the situation of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongolians in the
People’s Republic of China, referring to “a policy of cultural and linguistic erasure”. He
emphasised that policies protecting and promoting minorities are not only more conducive to
well being and stability but also discourage secessionism, radicalization, and conflict. He urged
States to empower national minorities by protecting their languages, cultures, and traditions,
and called for the closure of Tibetan residential schooling.
Collectively, these speeches demonstrate that minority inclusion is essential for
effective peacebuilding, transitional justice, and societal stability. Minorities are not only
victims of conflict but also agents of innovative solutions, reconciliation, and governance.
Ensuring their meaningful participation requires recognizing their identities, protecting their
rights, investing in their initiatives, and embedding their perspectives into local, national, and
international processes. When minority voices are amplified, peace becomes more legitimate,
justice more equitable, and societies more resilient, inclusive, and harmonious.
Interactive Dialogue
During the interactive dialogue, participants emphasized the critical role of minority
communities in peacebuilding, transitional justice, and accountability processes, while
highlighting the persistent exclusion and systemic marginalization that undermines their
participation. Interventions drew attention to the intersectional nature of minority
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