A/HRC/25/56
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
6 January 2014
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Twenty-fifth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Independent Expert on minority
issues, Rita Izsák
Summary
The present report provides an update on the activities of the mandate holder since
submission of her previous report. The Independent Expert includes a thematic discussion
on “Ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post-2015 development agendas”. As
momentum builds towards the shaping of new global development goals, addressing
inequalities has emerged as a core area of discussion and consultation. This gives greater
attention to the issues of women, those with disabilities, the elderly and vulnerable groups.
However the Independent Expert considers that the issues of minorities remain relatively
poorly reflected in the emerging discussions, both internationally and nationally. She urges
greater and systematic attention to disadvantaged minorities who constitute hundreds of
millions of the poorest and most socially and economically marginalized and excluded
people globally.
The Independent Expert identifies the need for the new global development agenda
to include specific goals relating to addressing inequality and promoting social inclusion,
which include specific requirements and targets focused on activities to address the
situations of disadvantaged minority groups. Human rights-based approaches to
development are essential and must give greater attention to the promotion and protection
of minority rights, which offers an important path to development for national, ethnic,
religious and linguistic minorities.
GE.14-10072
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