Kazakhstan Took Part in the 13th Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues

On November 19 and 20, 2020, The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva took part in the 13th session of the Forum on Minority Issues, which is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council resolutions. This year the UN Forum is convened on the theme "Hate Speech, Social Media and Minorities".

The Forum was opened by the UN High Commissioners for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, President of the Human Rights Council Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Pramila Patten and Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes. 

Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan Zhanar Aitzhanova in her speech noted the institutional and legislative measures as well as international initiatives of Kazakhstan to strengthen interethnic harmony. She outlined the special role of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan and the role of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which is held in the capital every three years, and its contribution to the development of a global dialogue between cultures and civilizations.

UN member states speaking at the forum also highlighted the themes of discrimination on the Internet that target minorities, often creating an atmosphere of exclusion, intolerance, hostility and even violence. At the sessions of the forum, participants analysed practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives in addressing hate speech in social media against the minorities, in line with the principles and rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other relevant international instruments.

The Forum on Minority Issues meets annually for two days with different thematic discussions. This year, due to the pandemic, for the first time, the forum was held entirely online. The UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues guides the work of the Forum. The recommendations of the 13th session of the Forum will be presented at the 46th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2021.