Call for Inputs: What are Minority Issues?

Since 2005, when the Commission on Human Rights established its mandate on minority issues, a significant number of thematic reports have been presented—20 to the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, and 14 to the UN General Assembly. These reports have examined various aspects of minority rights, focusing on specific minority categories and the legal protection of their rights, however, none of these reports has yet addressed the fundamental question: “What are minority issues?”

To determine what constitutes minority issues in each state—and why they might seem absent in others—a call for input has been launched. This initiative adopts a dual bottom-up approach: first, by gathering responses via tailored questionnaires from governments, civil society, and academics; and second, by conducting a social media analysis to identify the discussions surrounding minority issues across various languages and regions. Combining these inputs, the Special Rapporteur and his research team aim to map minority issues worldwide and, in the final report, propose recommendations for addressing them within the framework of the UN system.

The deadline to submit responses is 28 February, 2025. For more details, including key questions and types of input/comments sought, visit the website of the OHCHR.