A/77/246 I. Introduction 1. The cultures, languages, and religions or beliefs of minorities have, throughout history, frequently been subjected to restrictions and even suppression. In the more extreme cases, fear or intolerance of the diversity of humanity or an ideological inability to accept the reality of our differences has led to the scapegoating of particular groups – almost always minorities – and to some of the worst atrocities ever committed: the genocide of millions of individuals because of the colour of their skin, the way they pray or the sound of their voice. It is no accident that almost all cases of genocide in the last century have involved minorities. Overwhelmingly – and not coincidentally – minorities represent most of the world’s stateless and are usually the main targets of hate crimes or hate speech in social media. Minority communities are among the world’s most educationally disadvantaged 1 and are more likely to be excluded or disadvantaged in areas such as political participation. Furthermore, their grievances are often at the root of, or instrumentalized in, the most violent internal conflicts. 2. The vulnerability and marginalization of minorities and the denial of many of their human rights and their prominence in terms of marginalization globally thus raise important questions about the steps taken by the United Nations to respond effectively to those most in need of protection. 3. The Special Rapporteur on minority issues submits the present report to the General Assembly pursuant to his mandate, as established in Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/79 and extended most recently by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 43/8. It summarizes his activities in 2021 and 2022 since his previous report to the General Assembly (A/76/162) and contains a thematic section on the evolution and positioning of the protection of the rights of minorities in the institutions, structures and initiatives of the United Nations. That section focuses on how the United Nations itself has integrated and mainstreamed the promotion of the human rights of minorities in its structures and initiatives all over the world, and how it has contributed to the recognition, promotion and protection of the rights of minorities. II. Activities of the Special Rapporteur in 2021 and 2022 4. The Special Rapporteur has engaged in a large number of activities, with the aim of conducting thematic studies, conducting country missions, communicating with Governments and other actors on alleged violations of the rights of minorities, promoting good practices and increasing awareness and understanding of the human rights of persons belonging to minorities, which underpin his mandate. For example, on 28 September 2021 he was the keynote speaker for the first Global Parliam entary Meeting on Achieving the Social Development Goals of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, speaking on the theme of “Leave no one behind: are we keeping the promise?” On 27 October 2021, he was the inaugural speaker for the Second Congress of the POCLANDE international network (People, Cultures, Languages and Development) held at Kenyatta University in Nairobi. On 4 November he was a panellist for a webinar on realizing equal nationality rights for all, organized by the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights and the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches. On 12 November 2021, he was an online panellist with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, and the High Commissioner of the Organization for Security and __________________ 1 22-11516 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Promoting and Protecting Minority Rights: A Guide for Advocates (United Nations publication, 2012), p. 81. 3/21