The Role of Minorities in Diverse and Resilient Societies; Speech by the Balochistan Human Rights Group Representative at the UN
According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, today, Thursday, 27 November 2025, the 18th session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues, with the theme “The contribution of minorities to diverse, resilient, and peaceful societies,” was held at the UN Assembly Hall in Geneva, Switzerland. Ms. Sabah Bandoui, the representative of the Balochistan Human Rights Group, delivered a speech at this session.
In her speech, the representative of the Balochistan Human Rights Group highlighted the situation of minorities in Iran, particularly the Baloch, Kurds, and Arabs, and stated: “These groups face disproportionately high executions following unfair, politically driven trials. Each execution traumatises families and silences communities, teaching people that speaking, seeking justice, or simply existing visibly can cost them their lives.”
She further emphasized that the denial of identity documents creates an existential crisis for individuals: “Without legal identity, they are told they do not exist. This becomes an existential crisis, especially for a child born into such conditions; a child who grows up knowing the state refuses to recognize them. How can we expect this child, or their parents, to build trust, communicate openly, or one day contribute to peaceful coexistence when the system denies their humanity from the start?”
Ms. Sabah Bandoui also pointed to the constant fear parents live under that their children could be targeted for arrest: “This forces families into a permanent state of anxiety, weakens communication, and breaks the bonds necessary for social cohesion. Generational trauma becomes not only a psychological burden but a major obstacle to peace.”
In conclusion, she urged the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran: “Prioritize the psychological impacts of systematic oppression in your reporting. This is not only a legal or political crisis, but a profound mental health emergency. Addressing these invisible wounds is vital for communities in Iran and for minority groups worldwide who live with trauma that shapes their futures, their relationships, and their chances of peace.”
