AIFLA - OHCHR input - Minority Rights and Sustainable Development call for inputs by the UN Human Rights Office issued in May 2020 emphasised the persistent issues of discrimination, exclusion and marginalisation experienced by various national, linguistic, ethnic and religious minorities. From outsized negative impacts of nascent technology trends to more severe health outcomes and disproportionate economic impacts from COVID-19 pandemic response measures, now is a crucial time to accelerate efforts to address these disparities.

The consultation aims to look at these inequalities from the lens of sustainable social and economic development. Drawing on library field’s experiences with leveraging access to information as a key driver of development, this submission discusses:

Inequalities in access to information experienced by ethnic religious, linguistic and national minorities:

  • Unequal access to ICT and connectivity
  • A lack of access to relevant content, particularly for linguistic minorities; and disparities in access amnd representation in media
  • Inequalities in access to information which enables use of key services, the realisation of fundamental rights, and overall wellbeing

Good practices from the library field which seek to address these disparities:

  • Tailored initiatives to meet the information needs of specific minority groups
  • Access to educational and cultural materials
  • Initiatives that facilitate access to learning opportunities, inclusion and empowerment.

Access the publication: [PDF-ENG]