[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-76px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
1 December 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the General Assembly held a high-level meeting to encourage member states to recommit to the protection of minorities.<\/p>\n During this meeting, we assessed the progress and setbacks on the implementation of the Declaration, identified constraints and achievements, and set priorities for the future.<\/p>\n Despite differences, there was broad consensus around one uniting idea:<\/p>\n Minority issues are usually at the heart of conflicts because the underlying causes of clashes almost always have to do with the violation of their rights.<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n The respect and implementation of minority rights require a genuine, honest conversation, and involvement of government institutions, all relevant stakeholders including the United Nations.<\/p>\n We should not shy away from what we know to be facts:<\/p>\n We know that women who belong to minorities are subject to intersecting forms of discrimination, multiplying their vulnerability to violence.<\/p>\n We know that the social media platforms are ideal breeding ground for hate speech targeting minorities and exacerbating their vulnerability, including to suffer hate crime.<\/p>\n We know that 75% of the world\u2019s stateless belong to minorities.<\/p>\n We know that minorities are underrepresented in positions of power and in decision-making.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But during the September High-Level Meeting, we also showcased some success stories, some best practices.<\/p>\n Quotas in national parliaments.<\/p>\n Zero tolerance policies against incitement to hatred.<\/p>\n Access to quality education in minority languages.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But we need to do a lot more to truly implement this Declaration.<\/p>\n Member States made commitments and pledges to protect the rights of minorities first and foremost at home, in their countries.<\/p>\n These pledges included:<\/p>\n \u00b7 Nurturing diversity and inclusion through education<\/p>\n \u00b7 Ensuring effective participation of minorities in decision-making<\/p>\n \u00b7 Implementing new national plans against discrimination<\/p>\n \u00b7 Supporting the preservation of minority languages<\/p>\n \u00b7 Actively promoting respect for cultural, religious and linguistic diversity of all persons<\/p>\n I sincerely commend Member States for taking on these efforts.<\/p>\n And I ask them to act with a sense of urgency to improve the protection of minorities.<\/p>\n Will we wait another 30 years to meaningfully implement the Declaration?<\/p>\n To uphold the most basic human rights for all?<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n Our world faces intersecting and interlocking crises. But how does that impact people with intersecting identities?<\/p>\n All too often, minorities are made to feel invisible.<\/p>\n This status quo will change only when our mindset changes.<\/p>\n I urge all stakeholders to seize the momentum generated by the high-level meeting and invest that energy into implementing practical solutions for the protection of all minorities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The full implementation of the Declaration is in the interest of us all.<\/p>\n Thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 1 December 2022 Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" 10 November 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\r\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is in crisis. It is in many crises.<\/p>\r\n It has been 15 months since the Taliban consolidated control over the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Its economy is in ruins. The humanitarian situation is disastrous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Two-thirds of the population is hungry.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Girls and women are banned from learning, having a job or getting proper medical care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The country is awash with heroin and opium.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Organized crime and terrorist organizations are thriving once again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is facing complex and interlinked challenges that the Taliban have shown they cannot \u2013 or would not \u2013 solve.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\r\n It is time to support the Afghan people with concrete solutions that place their needs front and center.<\/p>\r\n It is true that some problems will require some time to resolve.<\/p>\r\n But there are actions the Assembly can take to change the paradigm now.<\/p>\r\n I would like you to consider one solution through solidarity.<\/p>\r\n The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan \u2013 which requires $4.4 billion US dollars \u2013 is only half funded.<\/p>\r\n With winter weather just weeks away, I encourage Member States to provide urgent support to help reduce the $2.3 billion dollar shortfall.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s remind ourselves of the old saying from Afghanistan: \u201cA real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend in times of distress and helplessness.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan has a rich history of scientific achievement.<\/p>\r\n I encourage the country\u2019s reengagement with the international science community.<\/p>\r\n And\u00a0to allow women who used to be respected members of the country\u2019s science community to resume their research and their studies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Afghanistan is now the only state in the world that would deny girls their full right to education.<\/p>\r\n The prospect of girls\u2019 education has been left to uncertainty amid seemingly random edicts from the Taliban.<\/p>\r\n This time last year, Fawzia Koofi, the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament, recalled her dream of one day addressing the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ as the President of Afghanistan.<\/p>\r\n She said:\u00a0\u201cWith me, millions of girls and women in Afghanistan had this dream that now they think will never come true.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Dreams of becoming President have been replaced by the reality of child marriage. Arrests if women and girls leave their home without a male chaperone.<\/p>\r\n I reiterate my call for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans, especially women and girls.<\/p>\r\n Similarly, I urge the Taliban to ensure the safety of all Afghans, regardless of gender, ethnic background, religious belief or political affiliation.<\/p>\r\n To protect journalists and civil society members.<\/p>\r\n To allow unhindered humanitarian aid, and to cooperate with humanitarian workers.<\/p>\r\n We expect the Taliban to make good on the commitments they made to the international community.\u00a0To show honesty through\u00a0concrete action.<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n The dramatic changes of 2021 have taken a massive toll on Afghanistan\u2019s economy and profoundly widened many security risks.<\/p>\r\n