A/HRC/61/33 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 13 January 2026 Original: English Human Rights Council Sixty-first session 23 February–2 April 2026 Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Summary The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 55/15. It contains information on relevant developments in 2025 of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms and on the activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that contribute to the promotion of and respect for the provisions of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The High Commissioner concludes that further steps are needed by States to recognize minorities as a group at risk of being left behind and to renew efforts to implement the Declaration, including by enacting comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and ensuring the meaningful participation of minorities in decision-making processes. GE.25-21065 (E) 120126 120126