A/HRC/43/28 under review, and observed that half of the victims had been working with communities on different issues, including the rights of minorities.49 73. In April, the High Commissioner expressed serious concern at the global rise in hatred directed at members of racial, ethnic and religious groups, and against foreigners or other minorities. She highlighted that OHCHR was supporting efforts to empower human rights defenders and civil society activists of all kinds – including activists for minority rights – so that they could confront prejudice effectively and with confidence, and to ensure that minorities could raise their voices and participate fully in the life of a nation.50 74. OHCHR and several human rights bodies and mechanisms, such as the treaty bodies, addressed acts of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders for their cooperation with the United Nations, by developing and implementing different measures of prevention and protection. 75. During the reporting period, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed concern about the prevalence of racially motivated crimes, in particular against Roma, Jews, migrants and minority rights activists.51 It expressed concern at the fact that human rights defenders advocating for the rights of persons of African descent and Afrodescendent leaders were the target of acts of violence, threats and attacks on their life. The Committee also noted with concern the misuse of the criminal justice system to prosecute defenders of the rights of persons of African descent.52 I. Minorities and statelessness 76. OHCHR paid particular attention to minority groups who were at risk of becoming stateless and engaged with States to promote cooperation, dialogue and understanding of the situation of minorities. For instance, at the country level, OHCHR continued to document and advocate with local and national authorities for the protection of the rights of ethnic Vietnamese minorities living in Cambodia. In particular, OHCHR monitored the implementation of new policies on the registration of ethnic Vietnamese as legal immigrants. The registration process ended in July, opening the way for the ethnic Vietnamese minorities to apply for naturalization, and ending the stateless situation of many. OHCHR welcomed the issuance of a circular on 1 July requiring local authorities to provide birth certificates, death certificates and resident books to people holding a permanent resident card. The circular should partly address the concerns of OHCHR regarding the lack of clarity on the rights associated with permanent residency, particularly the right to education, work and social services. OHCHR will monitor the implementation of this circular at the local level. 77. On 13 March, the Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, who presented the first thematic report on statelessness as a minority issue. He expressed concern that millions around the world were deprived of citizenship because they belonged to specific minorities, increasing their vulnerability and exclusion. The Special Rapporteur noted, in particular, statelessness among the one million or so members of the Rohingya minority of Myanmar. J. Rights of linguistic minorities 78. Several United Nations human rights mechanisms and OHCHR field presences raised issues regarding linguistic minorities. In 2019, the first United Nations regional forums on minority issues were organized in Brussels, Bangkok and Tunis, aimed at bringing the discussion closer to the different regions using the theme of “education, language and the human rights of minorities”. Discussions at the regional forums aimed to 49 50 51 52 See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24948&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24503&LangID=E. CERD/C/CZE/CO/12-13, paras. 13–14. CERD/C/MEX/CO/18-21, paras. 30–31. 13