International Community has Duty to Protect Minorities
Categories: Articles:Human Rights |
Published: 28/11/2014 |
Views: 1769
It is the international community's duty to draw lessons from the horrific violence and atrocious crimes facing minorities around the world to prevent them from being repeated, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said at a forum on minority issues. Speaking to the 7th Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues on "Preventing and Addressing Violence and Atrocity Crimes Targeted against Minorities," Mr. Eliasson explained that simply saying "never again" is not enough.
"We have all seen the unfolding tragedy in Iraq and Syria where Christians, Turkmens, Yezidis and other minorities have been targeted for the most brutal atrocities," he said . Sadly, this is not an exception. Violence and atrocity crimes directed against minorities all over the world are well documented, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and genocide," Mr. Eliasson. The United Nations as a whole and all Member States must renew commitments and intensify efforts to promote and protect minority rights worldwide.
“We have all seen the unfolding tragedy in Iraq and Syria where Christians, Turkmens, Yezidis and other minorities have been targeted for the most brutal atrocities,” he said.
“Sadly, this is not an exception. Violence and atrocity crimes directed against minorities all over the world are well documented, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and genocide,” Mr. Eliasson.
The United Nations as a whole and all Member States must renew commitments and intensify efforts to promote and protect minority rights worldwide. To that end, he said that the Forum plays an important part, by helping stakeholders understand the nature of such crimes, root causes and inherent dynamics.
Read more: UN News Centre, 25/11/14
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