25th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities: Looking Ahead

In the context of the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, this side event will provide an opportunity to look into the most relevant contemporary and future challenges that minorities around the world are faced with. The side event will focus on the relevance of a minority-rights approach in the efforts to combat intolerance, radicalization and violent extremism. In this regard, it will assess the importance of effective forms of inclusion and public participation as a means to promote peaceful and integrated societies and identify good practices in effectively combatting hate speech and incitement to hatred and violence.

Opening remarks

Mr. Wolfgang Brandstetter

Minister of Justice of Austria

Keynote speaker

Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis

European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights

Ms. Kate Gilmore

United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

Panelists

Ms. Rita Izsák-Ndiaye

UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues (Video-message)

Mr. Ibrahim Salama

Director, Human Rights Treaties Division (OHCHR)

Ms. Farah Mihlar

Sri Lankan minority rights researcher, consultant with the International Crisis Group (ICG)

Ms. Halah Kutaish

Syrian Druze, UN Minority Fellow

Mr. Dimitris Christopoulos

President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Moderator: Mark Lattimer, Executive Director, Minority Rights Group International