Geneva [Switzerland], March 18 (ANI): Tasha Mauricette Stoppler of Sambhali Trust, in an oral statement during the Special Rapporteur on minority issues at the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, underscored the urgent need to protect minority rights, saying equality, social cohesion, and sustainable peace are unattainable without inclusive safeguards for vulnerable communities.
Stoppler noted that minorities worldwide still face systemic discrimination in access to education, livelihoods, housing, and justice, leaving them disproportionately exposed to marginalisation, exclusion, and violence.
Drawing on grassroots experience in Rajasthan, she described Sambhali Trust’s work with women and girls from marginalised and minority communities, highlighting how structural barriers shape lives and limit opportunities. Through education programmes, psychosocial support, safe shelters, and livelihood centres, the organisation aims to rebuild confidence and restore dignity.
“Minority women are not passive recipients of welfare,” Stoppler said, adding that when given equitable opportunities and supportive spaces, they become powerful agents of resilience, cultural strength, and social transformation.
She pointed out India’s diverse social fabric and noted that the country officially recognises six minority communities, with constitutional safeguards guaranteeing equality and protection from discrimination. Targeted initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram have supported development in over 1,300 minority-concentrated areas, particularly in education, healthcare, and skill development.
However, Stoppler warned that policy frameworks alone are insufficient and urged governments, especially at the state level, to ensure meaningful participation of minority communities in decision-making that affects their lives. She called on the international community to prioritise inclusive approaches that empower minority women, asserting their participation is central to building equitable societies and achieving lasting peace and development. (ANI)
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