A/HRC/34/21
F.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
90.
The concluding observations on the reports of Angola (E/C.12/AGO/CO/4-5),
France (E/C.12/FRA/CO/4), Sweden (E/C.12/SWE/CO/6), the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia (E/C.12/MKD/CO/2-4) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland (E/C.12/GBR/CO/6), adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights at its fifty-eighth session, addressed minority issues.
91.
The Committee recommended that Angola implement measures to promote and
preserve minority languages.
92.
In the case of France, the Committee recommended that the State party officially
recognize the need to protect the cultural rights of minority groups, collect disaggregated
data on ethnic minorities and recognize and promote the rights of peoples belonging to
linguistic minorities.
93.
The Committee recommended that Sweden continue public awareness-raising
campaigns on violence against women belonging to ethnic minorities and that it ensure that
children belonging to minority groups can develop skills in their mother tongue through
bilingual education.
94.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was called upon to intensify its efforts
to eradicate structural discrimination against Roma and improve their socioeconomic status.
95.
With regard to the United Kingdom, the Committee expressed concern that
minorities are still affected by unemployment, poverty and educational inequalities. The
Committee recommended that the State party ensure that undocumented Roma have access
to health-care services and culturally appropriate accommodation provided without
discrimination.
96.
The concluding observations on the reports of Cyprus (E/C.12/CYP/CO/6), Lebanon
(E/C.12/LBN/CO/2) and Poland (E/C.12/POL/CO/6), adopted by the Committee at its fiftyninth session, dealt with the rights of minorities.
97.
With regard to Cyprus, the Committee expressed concerned about the persistent
discrimination against members of ethnic minorities, in particular Roma.
98.
In the case of Lebanon, the Committee recommended that the State party ensure that
its legal framework on the rights of ethnic minorities complies with international standards.
It also recommended that the State party protect and promote the cultural rights of all ethnic
minorities, including the Dom and Bedouins, without discrimination.
99.
Poland was encouraged to intensify its efforts to preserve the cultural heritage and
cultural identity of national and ethnic minorities.
VI. Conclusions
100. The year 2016 was marked by an increase in reported incidents of
discrimination, bigotry and xenophobia in many countries, sometimes leading to
violent extremism, and the commission of international crimes by State and non-State
actors. Violent extremism is challenging shared values of peace, justice and human
dignity and making it harder to protect minorities from killings and atrocities,
particularly in some parts of the world.
101. At the same time, discrimination and the exclusion of minorities must not be
allowed to undermine development opportunities and progress. Efforts to tackle
development challenges, reduce poverty and implement the 2030 Agenda for
15