Minorities are not internally homogenous communities. Several groups may be marginalised within minority communities including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, sexual minorities and persons living with HIV. These groups will experience multiple forms of exclusion and intersecting discrimination.

In some cases, discrimination against these groups may be culturally entrenched. The exercise of minority rights is not a justification for the practice of discrimination and the rights of such groups must be respected fully and equally. According to the UN Human Rights Committee, “none of the rights protected under article 27 of the [ICCPR] may be legitimately exercised in a manner or to an extent inconsistent with the other provisions of the [ICCPR]”.⁸

It is important to recall that individuals have the right not to self-identify with a minority group to avoid discrimination. For some, internal discrimination within the minority community may involuntarily push them out. For others, the social stigma and discrimination that comes with being a minority may prompt them to disassociate from this community. In the latter case, it is important to respect the right of self-identification of the individual while simultaneously working against social and political factors that devalue the minority identity.

Women and girls from minority groups experience multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination based on both their minority status and their gender. Such multidimensional discrimination may make them particularly vulnerable to violations and a denial of their rights in both public and private life. Minority women often find themselves marginalised and face exclusion within their own communities and in the society alike. They might have unequal opportunities for political participation and frequently lack adequate employment and income-generating opportunities, social and financial capital, and basic social services. Women are also commonly discriminated against with respect to ownership and inheritance of property. In situations of armed conflict, the vulnerability of women to exploitation and abuse is greatly increased and minority women are often disproportionately affected. For this reason, a gender perspective is of particular relevance while addressing the situation of minorities in a given country, including in their own communities.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) includes special protection for minority children (article 30). In its General Comment No. 6, the Committee on the Rights of the Child noted: “State obligations under the Convention apply to each child within the State’s territory and to all children subject to its jurisdiction (article 2)”. The CRC rights are not limited to children who are citizens of a State party and must be available to all children - including asylum-seeking, refugee and migrant children - irrespective of their nationality, immigration status or statelessness. This is of particular relevance to minority children who may be stateless or lack registration documents, which can increase their vulnerability to abuse, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation. The Committee has also recommended that States parties take steps to ensure the development and implementation of culturally sensitive health, social and education services, including the provision of education in minority languages.

Some individuals within minority communities might be marginalised and discriminated against by actors in the group and outside the group Gender mainstreaming should take account of the intersecting forms of discrimination faced by minority women and girl children.