A/HRC/61/33 42. In December, in its concluding observations on the combined twenty-third and twenty-fourth periodic reports submitted by New Zealand under the Convention, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed its concern about the persistent racial stereotypes that continued to affect social cohesion and undermine respect for cultural diversity. The Committee recommended that New Zealand intensify efforts to prevent and counter those stereotypes, including through the revision of educational curricula at all levels to promote intercultural dialogue, respect for ethnic and cultural diversity and understanding of diverse histories, such as by incorporating the history and legacies of colonialism, as well as the linguistic identities and cultural heritage of Māori, Pacific peoples, migrants, refugees and other ethnic communities, including those of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American descent.41 43. Also in December, in its concluding observations on the combined twentieth to twenty-second periodic reports submitted by Tunisia under the Convention, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination welcomed the revocation of a 1965 circular restricting the registration of Amazigh names for newborns but expressed its concern over persistent refusals by some municipalities to register Amazigh names and structural discrimination affecting the Amazigh ethnic minority group. The Committee highlighted barriers to education in Tamazight and noted limited access to employment, healthcare and housing. It urged Tunisia to implement the 2020 circular allowing the registration of Amazigh names effectively, take special measures to combat the marginalization faced by the Amazigh ethnic minority and ensure their access to education in their mother tongue, employment, healthcare and housing.42 F. Data and data-driven technologies 44. In the Republic of Moldova, OHCHR provided expert support to the National Bureau of Statistics and advocated for the systematic inclusion of data disaggregated by ethnicity, language and religion in national surveys. From September to December, in partnership with the High Commissioner for National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OHCHR delivered a comprehensive capacity-building programme for the National Bureau of Statistics on minority rights and disaggregated data collection. 45. In September, in his statement delivered during high-level week, the High Commissioner warned that data-driven technologies, including artificial intelligence, could perpetuate and deepen discrimination and inequality, in particular for those who were already marginalized. He highlighted that predictive policing tools used to flag future crimes and likely suspects were reproducing historical bias against racial, ethnic and religious minorities. The High Commissioner urged States to implement robust legal frameworks to ensure that artificial intelligence systems were safe, transparent and accountable and to take specific action on equality and non-discrimination, data protection, privacy and access to information, building digital systems that respected human dignity and complied with human rights standards.43 G. Empowerment and participation 46. The Minorities Fellowship Programme, a key component of the efforts of OHCHR to mainstream minority issues and strengthen the capacity of minority rights advocates, marked its twentieth anniversary in 2025. In November, the Programme welcomed 19 fellows from seventeen countries, offering them the opportunity to deepen their understanding of United Nations human rights instruments and enhance their advocacy skills to better use international human rights standards and mechanisms. The Programme included a one-week 41 42 43 10 CERD/C/NZL/CO/23-24, paras. 51 and 52. CERD/C/TUN/CO/20-22, paras. 21 and 22. See www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2025/09/high-commissioner-turk-building-fairdigital-future. GE.25-21065