HRC 40 - EU Intervention: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Minorities

Thank you Mr. President.

Mr. De Varennes.

The EU would like to thank you for your presentation and your report outlining your activities in the past year. 

We particularly welcome the efforts you have devoted in 2018 to further raise awareness of the human rights challenges facing persons belonging to minorities.

Your work in the past year has contributed significantly in raising awareness of the fact that Statelessness is a human rights issue disproportionately affecting persons belonging to minorities around the world.  Discrimination is often a cause for that. Among the known stateless populations in the world, a significant proportion come from persons belonging to ethno-religious minorities. The case of the Rohingya illustrates in the most dramatic way how statelessness and minority issues can be intertwined.

The effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development and the UNHCR Global Action Plan to End Statelessness 2014-2024 can contribute significantly to improving the human rights of persons belonging to minorities and to eradicating statelessness.

In your report you reiterate the need for a more targeted and comprehensive identification of positive measures that States can take to avoid the scourge of statelessness. Can you already share some best practices in this regard?

The EU appreciates the Special Rapporteurs particular interest and devotion to country visits, which have helped in addressing fundamental issues pertaining to persons belonging to minorities and in creating effective communication channels in different regions. The EU encourages all states to engage positively and cooperate with the Special Rapporteur to assist him in fulfilling his mandate.