Presentations on the topic under discussion were made by the following panellists: Honourable Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa; Mr. Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development; and Ms. Angelica Ricaurte Villalobos, Latin America Advisor at Minority Rights Group. In her address, Commissioner Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana highlighted the diversity of Africa, pointing out that while the continent is rich in languages, cultures, and traditions, the most marginalized communities including pastoralists, hunter-gatherers, coastal and forest peoples, and religious and linguistic minorities remain largely unrecognized. Drawing on the African Commission’s Mapping Study on Minorities, she stressed that recognition is the first step toward trust, and that invisibility and denial of identity fuel exclusion. Dr. Musyimi-Ogana outlined the foundational contributions of minorities. Economically, they sustain markets, protect biodiversity, and support rural economies; culturally, they preserve endangered languages, spiritual practices, and artistic traditions; politically and socially, their activism has influenced governance, constitutional reforms, and landmark human rights decisions, such as the Ogiek and Endorois cases. She called for legal recognition of minority identities, protection of land and traditional livelihoods, inclusion in development planning, and safeguarding of languages. Importantly, she argued that minorities do not weaken nations, they complete them. Turning to peacebuilding and transitional justice, she noted that minorities often bear the brunt of conflict yet remained excluded from negotiations and reconciliation processes. She argued that peace and justice can only endure when minority voices are meaningfully included at all levels, as essential partners in reconciliation and nation-building. Mr. Surya Deva emphasized the vital contributions minorities make across economic, social, cultural, political, and institutional spheres, while underscoring that these contributions can only be fully realized when their right to development is respected. Economically, he noted that minorities often face exclusion from formal opportunities, yet continue to sustain national economies through entrepreneurship, job creation, and strong community support systems, including vocational training, microcredit, and temporary shelter for those left behind. Socially and culturally, minorities enrich societies by preserving distinct languages, customs, religious festivals, artistic traditions, and cuisines, helping communities value and embrace diversity. Politically, he highlighted how minority leaders overcome systemic barriers to participate in governance, shaping reforms that address inequality and mentoring younger generations. Institutionally, he stressed that minority representation ensures that governance structures reflect the diversity of society and respond effectively to the needs and rights of all groups. Mr. Deva argued that realizing minorities’ right to development is essential for unlocking their full potential. Ms. Angelica Ricaurte Villalobos provided examples from the Americas to illustrate the breadth of minority contributions. She highlighted how Afro-descendant communities sustain economies, protect ecosystems, and preserve cultural and historical heritage, citing U.S. Black-owned businesses, Afro-Brazilian cultural influence, and mixed Indigenous/Afrodescendant communities’ role in forest, river, and coastal stewardship in Ecuador and Colombia. 7