Speaking at the opening of the Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva on Thursday, Türk said diversity should be viewed as humanity’s “earliest teacher”, yet millions of people belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities remain disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment and homelessness.
He cautioned that the situation is worsening in many regions. “We see land grabs and displacement, cultural suppression, and even forced evictions from ancestral homes and lands to make way for tourism and commerce,” he said.
Türk also raised alarm over a growing trend of democratic governments reversing hard-won protections. Some states, he noted, are rolling back legal safeguards, reducing quotas for minority participation and hiring, and authorising raids and surveillance that disproportionately target minority communities.
Online spaces have become an extension of these threats. According to Türk, around 70% of individuals targeted by hate speech on social media belong to minority groups, exposing them to new forms of harassment and violence.
Thursday’s session of the forum focused on the root causes of exclusion, discrimination and intergroup tensions. Delegates explored how structural inequalities, weak protections and inadequate political representation continue to fuel marginalisation.
Türk stressed that combating discrimination requires stronger laws and genuine inclusion. Fewer than a quarter of countries, he said, have comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in place, leaving millions without recourse or protection.
He urged governments to expand minority participation in political processes and workplaces, integrate human rights into school curricula, and ensure that minority rights defenders can carry out their work safely.
Türk also emphasised the need for reliable data systems to strengthen accountability, arguing that governments must invest in tools that can track abuses and inform policy responses.
The Forum on Minority Issues continues to serve as a global platform for raising concerns affecting minority groups and for shaping strategies that promote equality, dialogue and long-term social cohesion.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
