NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) — The United Nations on Monday urged the government of Paraguay to enact new laws to protect the rights of minorities, in particular women and indigenous people.

During her visit to Paraguay, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang called on the government to scale up its efforts to stop discrimination and injustice towards women and indigenous people. She met with leaders from minority groups and civil organizations to hear the challenges they face on a daily basis.

“I have heard their plight and I have heard of how their everyday lives are made difficult by fear, bigotry and abuse. Many even suffer physical attacks. And I am concerned that the anti-discrimination bill, and important framework to protect them, has not yet been passed as law,” she said. “I urge Congress to pass this essential piece of legislation without further delay.”

Kang said the situation of women is particularly precarious as they are vulnerable to domestic violence, sexual abuse and trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation purposes. She also pointed to Paraguay’s rate of maternal and infant mortality as one of the highest in the region.

During her visit, which concluded last week, Kang also met with indigenous leaders who expressed concern about their ancestral lands and feared that the government will evict them. She also called on the government to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and other communities.