A/HRC/43/28 stood for, and that the murderous Islamophobic and terrorist attacks on two mosques in New Zealand had been another terrible reminder that racism killed. 18. During the period under review, OHCHR assisted national authorities and other stakeholders in preventing or mitigating violations of the human rights of persons belonging to minorities. The human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine documented no attacks against Roma settlements in 2019. That was in sharp contrast to 2018, when five violent attacks had been documented. That positive development could be attributed, in part, to strong advocacy on the issue, including the prompt and ongoing early warning advocacy of OHCHR with the National Police of Ukraine, which was complemented by advocacy by the Resident Coordinator and Special Rapporteurs.12 19. In 2019, the Human Rights Service of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) continued to document deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects, in particular direct attacks against the Shia Muslim population, most of whom were ethnic Hazara. In 2018, UNAMA recorded a 34 per cent increase, year-on-year, in casualties among the Shia minority and recommended to the parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, and to the Government to increase efforts to protect religious leaders, as well as the Shia Muslim religious minority population, from sectarian-motivated attacks.13 20. United Nations human rights experts also drew attention to the situation of persons belonging to minorities. In April, they urged the de facto authorities in Sana’a to quash immediately the death sentence against Hamid Kamali bin Haydara, a follower of the Baha’i faith, as they could not accept the injustice of having anyone punished by death on the grounds of his or her religion or belief or belonging to a religious minority.14 21. Several United Nations human rights experts expressed concern over the ongoing update of the National Register of Citizens in Assam, India, and its potential to harm millions of people, most of whom belonged to minorities. The experts also issued warnings on the rise of hate speech directed against those minorities in social media, and the potential destabilizing effects of the marginalization and uncertainties facing millions in that part of the country.15 22. At the end of its visit to Kyrgyzstan in June, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances noted that, in relation to the inter-ethnic violence that had broken out in Osh Region in June, it had received information indicating that 17 individuals were still missing and the remains of 9 individuals were still pending identification. The Working Group noted that there had been no recent progress on the searches.16 B. Non-discrimination guarantees 23. OHCHR continued to engage in activities, including through the framework of the 2030 Agenda, for the promotion and inclusion of non-discrimination guarantees in normative and policy processes regarding persons belonging to minorities. 24. In 2019, OHCHR visited Italy to examine the situation concerning racial discrimination in the country, with a focus on incitement to hatred and discrimination, including against minorities. OHCHR received numerous complaints about an increase in hate speech, racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia against migrants, persons belonging to minorities, including Roma, and persons perceived as “foreigners” based on 12 13 14 15 16 See www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/ReportUkraine16May-15Aug2019_EN.pdf. See https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/unama_annual_protection_of_civilians _report_2018_-_23_feb_2019_-_english.pdf. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24532&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24781&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24763. 5