Today, many societies today appear to be splintering into defensive – and even mutually hostile – communities. Multiple armed conflicts have taken on sectarian dimensions. The Yezidi in Iraq have suffered a genocidal campaign of attacks by Daesh, and many other minority communities are under attack. Unprincipled political leaders are seeking to stoke the forces of prejudice, scapegoating vulnerable foreigners and minorities for a whole range of social ills. And yet I look around this room and I can see only the beauty of diversity, and the health and wealth of any society which embraces the mingling and juxtaposition of identities, traditions and views. I pay tribute to your resilience, dignity and conviction. And I pledge the unwavering support of my Office to your cause. - See more at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20929&LangID=E#sthash. 76gbYqkk.dpuf