Drawing on the lived experience of the Bahá’í community in Iran, she illustrated the systematic nature of “othering,” explaining how discrimination begins in early childhood and extends throughout life. She described enforced classroom segregation, denial of university admission despite strong academic performance, bans on entering numerous professions, arbitrary raids and detentions, confiscation of property, state-sponsored incitement to hatred, and even the denial of dignified burial, an approach a former Special Rapporteur termed “persecution from cradle to grave.” Alai also highlighted administrative practices that erase minority identities, such as ID card systems that, despite claims of neutrality, ultimately prevent individuals from marrying or accessing essential services. Despite these realities, Ms. Ala’i emphasized examples of solidarity from majority communities and positive developments in the Gulf region. Mr. Rup Sunar stressed that trust and social cohesion are essential foundations for inclusive and democratic societies. He explained that historical forms of discrimination, particularly caste-based exclusion in South Asia, continue to shape political and social structures, reinforcing inequalities and marginalizing minority communities. Mistrust, he noted, grows from entrenched structural discrimination, stigmatization and the persistent invisibility of minorities. Despite constitutional guarantees, many groups still face discriminatory norms limiting access to education, healthcare, employment and land, political underrepresentation, cultural and religious persecution, and a widening digital divide that spreads harmful narratives. Mr. Sunar highlighted how Dalit and minority communities are increasingly mobilizing through grassroots organizing, digital activism, litigation and political engagement. He provided global examples of initiatives that foster trust, including legal literacy programmes for Dalit youth in Nepal, mother-tongue education in India, Social Harmony Committees in Bangladesh, and artistic expression within the U.S. Black Lives Matter movement. Interactive Dialogue In the interactive dialogue, participants raised numerous concerns related to building trust and fostering social cohesion among minority communities and the broader society. They highlighted that barriers to peaceful coexistence often stem from the denial of minority identities, lack of recognition in law, and restricted access to public life, which fuels marginalization, exclusion, and mistrust. Several interventions noted that structural discrimination, hate speech, and violence targeting minorities exacerbate tensions and impede inclusive governance, while safe spaces for dialogue and youth engagement are often insufficient or absent. Participants stressed the importance of recognizing and protecting minority identities as a first step toward trust and social cohesion. Civil society organizations and local groups shared examples of ongoing discrimination and human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, restrictions on political participation, suppression of minority languages, denial of nationality, and attacks on cultural practices. Specific cases were cited, illustrating the global and intersectional nature of these challenges. Minority women, youth, and other vulnerable groups were highlighted as particularly affected by layered forms of discrimination. 5