In times of increasing global challenges (climate change, armed conflicts, international and internal migration), those people who are among the most vulnerable population groups in the countries of the Global South are under considerable pressure. In the area of social rights (including the rights to health and social security), where governments are granted greater leeway under international law than in the case of political rights, this can easily lead to unjustified restrictions. People who not only belong to the most vulnerable groups in society in general (e.g. children and women, older people, people with disabilities and migrants), but also belong to an ethnic or religious minority, are potentially particularly affected by rights violations. In many countries, minorities are not sufficiently supported and protected by public institutions – they are not only confronted with restrictions in the political and cultural sphere, but are often also socially disadvantaged due to social discrimination. People who belong to particularly vulnerable groups and at the same time to a minority must therefore fear that their social rights are not sufficiently protected for several reasons. In this case, we are talking about a form of ‘intersectional discrimination’.

As part of a research project that has been running since April 2024, it is being investigated what precautions governments and international institutions are taking to adequately counter this specific risk of discrimination. The relevant legal norms at global level in this regard are primarily the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. In addition, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must also be taken into account (in particular SDG 10.2). At national level, the question arises as to whether constitutional and statutory law as well as the political strategies adopted by governments comply with these special human rights requirements that are in place with regard to intersectional discrimination against minorities.

Project assistant: Jasmin Dogu

Publications:

“Anti-poverty legislation for particularly vulnerable groups – the example of indigenous peoples and minorities”, to be published in: Politics and Governance (open access journal), vol. 14 (2026).

Events:

Panel discussion on the protection of Yazidis from deportation to Iraq, on 22 January 2026, at 6 p.m., at the Fritz Bauer Forum, Bochum