Geneva, March 18 — Tasha Mauricette Stoppler of Sambhali Trust delivered an oral statement at the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council during the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, calling for urgent protection of minority rights. She argued that equality, social cohesion and sustainable peace cannot be achieved without inclusive safeguards for vulnerable groups.
Stoppler highlighted persistent, systemic discrimination faced by minorities in education, livelihoods, housing and access to justice, which leaves them at greater risk of marginalisation, exclusion and violence. Drawing on Sambhali Trust’s grassroots work in Rajasthan, she outlined how structural barriers restrict opportunities for women and girls from marginalised and minority communities.
Describing the organisation’s response, Stoppler spoke about education programmes, psychosocial support, safe shelters and livelihood centres designed to rebuild confidence and restore dignity. She emphasised that minority women are not passive beneficiaries of aid but, when given equitable opportunities and supportive spaces, become agents of resilience, cultural strength and social change.
Stoppler noted India’s diverse social fabric and said the country officially recognises six minority communities, with constitutional safeguards against discrimination. She cited targeted initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram, which has supported development in more than 1,300 minority-concentrated areas—focusing on education, healthcare and skill development.
However, she warned that laws and programmes alone are insufficient. Stoppler urged national and state governments to ensure meaningful participation of minority communities in decisions affecting their lives and appealed to the international community to prioritise inclusive approaches that empower minority women, whose participation she said is essential for building equitable societies and lasting peace and development.
Source: ANI. This article is syndicated and published as received.
