A/HRC/34/53
67.
The Special Rapporteur has observed that certain groups within minority
communities, such as minority women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities,
and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, experience unique challenges and
multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination emanating from their status as members
of minorities and their specific condition or situation. The Special Rapporteur encourages
further research to fully understand their situation and calls for targeted actions to address
their particular challenges.
68.
Global migration patterns often drive certain migrants to form more or less compact
communities in their host country. States must make concerted efforts to support members
of new minorities to integrate into the national labour market, social fabric and collective
psyche and to establish guarantees for them to freely practise their language, religion,
traditions and culture. Feelings of alienation and lack of belonging, as often experienced by
migrants, and feelings of fear and threat, as often experienced by citizens, may induce antisocial and even criminal behaviour, including extremism. Such feelings should be met with
proactive diversity programmes helping migrants and citizens to connect and know each
other better, and favouring social integration for all.
69.
The Special Rapporteur has often been struck by the general lack of knowledge and
understanding about the most disadvantaged minorities and their daily struggles for basic
human rights and dignity. This is often compounded by negligence on the part of
authorities, owing to non-inclusive governance, lack of channels of communication
between minorities and authorities and lack of accessible spaces for safe exchange of the
various views, concerns, experiences and aspirations. The Special Rapporteur is concerned
that growing inequalities in many parts of the world and the increasing concentration of
power in the economic and political spheres as well as in the media will lead to further
marginalization of those who are already on the bottom. She believes that communication,
trust-building and power-sharing between various groups belonging to different societal
strata are prerequisites for sustainable development, peace and stability.
70.
The Special Rapporteur has been particularly alarmed by the limited, or often
complete lack, of minority presence in political and public offices. She has repeatedly
stressed throughout her tenure the need to ensure that minorities are included in all
decision-making processes, including in municipal and government structures, law
enforcement bodies, the judiciary, legislative bodies, criminal justice systems and all
authorities, especially when their decisions affect minorities. Without their participation,
such bodies are less able to make vital decisions in a way that benefits the entire society,
and they will also be less trusted by minorities, who might be reluctant to access them, or
discouraged from doing so.
71.
The Special Rapporteur recalls that the various forms of discrimination, violence
and atrocities are different manifestations of similar mind sets and are often rooted in fear,
ignorance, feelings of insecurity or, simply, envy of the other. She regrets the disconnect
between the psychological, social and legal studies in this field, and urges the United
Nations to pay increased attention to better understanding the actual psychosocial motives
behind prejudice, racism, bigotry and hatred so they can be better addressed and prevented.
2.
Need for adequate data collection and statistical analysis
72.
As the Special Rapporteur has repeatedly stated in her thematic and country visit
reports, it is crucial for States to be aware of the composition of their population, including
who the minority groups are, in order to obtain an accurate picture of the number,
geographical distribution, identity and socioeconomic status of minority groups. Collection
and statistical analysis of disaggregated data on minorities are essential tools for designing
and monitoring adequate policies and targeted plans for minorities. In the process of
collection and analysis of disaggregated data, provisions should be made to safeguard
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