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UN Photo1st Meeting - 18th Session of the Forum on Minority Issues
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02:59:57
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18th session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues - "The contribution of minorities to diverse, resilient, and peaceful societies" (27-28 November 2025 - Geneva, Assembly Hall)
View moreView lessDescription
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Opening Meeting
Item 1: Building trust and social cohesion: addressing barriers to peaceful coexistence
Under this agenda item, the Forum will examine the structural drivers of mistrust, exclusion and conflict between minority and dominant populations, as well as among minority groups themselves. The discussion will address the root causes of exclusion, discrimination, and intergroup tensions, including entrenched inequalities, social stigma, and the persistent invisibility of minority groups, as obstacles to harmony and peaceful coexistence. Panellists will highlight State and community initiatives that have successfully diffused tensions and fostered trust, such as community-based strategies, mediation programmes, intercultural, inter-caste and interfaith dialogue initiatives and multilingual education policies. They will also reflect on the role of education, the media, and artistic or cultural expression in countering stigmatization and creating inclusive social norms.
Speakers:
Interactive dialogue
View moreView lessOpening Meeting
- Statement by the Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Ambassador Razvan Rusu
- Statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk
- Statement by the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Mr. Nicolas Levrat
- Statement by the Chairperson of the 18th session of the Forum on Minority Issues
Item 1: Building trust and social cohesion: addressing barriers to peaceful coexistence
Under this agenda item, the Forum will examine the structural drivers of mistrust, exclusion and conflict between minority and dominant populations, as well as among minority groups themselves. The discussion will address the root causes of exclusion, discrimination, and intergroup tensions, including entrenched inequalities, social stigma, and the persistent invisibility of minority groups, as obstacles to harmony and peaceful coexistence. Panellists will highlight State and community initiatives that have successfully diffused tensions and fostered trust, such as community-based strategies, mediation programmes, intercultural, inter-caste and interfaith dialogue initiatives and multilingual education policies. They will also reflect on the role of education, the media, and artistic or cultural expression in countering stigmatization and creating inclusive social norms.
Speakers:
- Mr. Christophe Kamp, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
- Ms. Diane Ala'i, Independent human rights and international affairs expert, Former Representative to the United Nations for the Baha'i International Community
- Mr. Rup Sunar, Chairperson of Dignity Initiative, Former OHCHR Senior Minority Fellow
Interactive dialogue