https://www.ohchr.org/en/events/forums/2025/eighteenth-session-forum-min...
The 18th session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues will take place this year under exceptional circumstances. Due to the ongoing UN budget crisis and renovation works at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the organization of the Forum has been adapted accordingly. Despite these challenges, the Forum remains committed to providing a vital platform for dialogue and cooperation on minority rights.
Registration to attend the Forum will be open from 2 September to 20 November 2025 via the Indico platform. Participants wishing to take the floor during the discussions will also need to register separately on the List of Speakers, which will be available in November 2025 on the Events platform. Further updates and practical information will be made available on this page in due course.
Please note that OHCHR does not provide supporting letters for visa applications and does not facilitate visa procedures for travel to Switzerland.
The Forum on Minority Issues was established to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as well as thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues. It was established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007, renewed by resolution 19/23 of 23 March 2012.
The Forum meets annually for two working days allocated to thematic discussions. The Special Rapporteur on minority issues guides the work of the Forum, prepares its annual meetings and reports on the thematic recommendations of the Forum to the Human Rights Council.
The President of the Human Rights Council appoints a Forum chairperson for each session. The chairperson is chosen from experts on minority issues, on the basis of regional rotation, and in consultation with regional groups.
