A/HRC/46/57
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
3 March 2021
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-sixth session
22 February–19 March 2021
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Minority issues
Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de
Varennes*, **
Summary
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes,
provides an overview of his activities since his previous report (A/HRC/43/47), and a
thematic report in which he addresses the widespread targeting of minorities through hate
speech in social media. He describes related phenomena, including the widespread denial or
failure of State authorities to recognize or effectively protect minorities against prohibited
forms of hate speech. He concludes by emphasizing the responsibility of States, civil society
and social media platforms to acknowledge that hate speech is mainly a minority issue and,
as a matter of urgency, their duty to take further steps towards the full and effective
implementation of the human rights obligations involved.
* The present report was submitted after the deadline so as to reflect the most recent information.
** The annexes to the present report are circulated as received, in the language of submission only.
GE.21-02920(E)