RES/19/23 Forum on Minority Issues

GE.A/HRC/19/56. 2-13041

Human Rights Council Nineteenth session

Agenda item 5

Human rights bodies and mechanisms

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council*

19/23

Forum on Minority Issues

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the

Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and

Linguistic Minorities adopted by consensus by the General Assembly by its resolution

47/135 of 18 December 1992, and taking into consideration article 27 of the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as other relevant existing international

standards and national legislation,

Recalling also all resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on

Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the rights of persons belonging to national

or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, in particular Council resolution 6/15 of 28

September 2007, in which the Council established the Forum on Minority Issues and

decided to review its work after four years,

Noting that 2012 marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration

on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic

Minorities,

Affirming that the above-mentioned anniversary offers an important opportunity to

reflect on the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or

ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as well as on achievements, best practices and

challenges with regard to the implementation of the Declaration,

Commending the Independent Expert on minority issues for the work done and the

important role in raising the level of awareness of, and in giving added visibility to, the

rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and for

the ongoing efforts to promote and protect their rights in order to ensure equitable

development and peaceful and stable societies, including through close cooperation with

* The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its nineteenth session (A/HRC/19/2), chap. I.

Governments, relevant United Nations bodies and mechanisms and non-governmental

organizations,

Emphasizing the need for reinforced efforts to meet the goal of the full realization of

the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities,

including by addressing their economic and social conditions and marginalization, as well

as to end any type of discrimination against them,

Affirming that effective measures and the creation of favourable conditions for the

promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious

and linguistic minorities, ensuring effective non-discrimination and equality for all, as well

as full and effective participation in matters affecting them, contribute to the prevention and

peaceful solution of human rights problems and situations involving minorities,

Underlining the need to pay specific attention to the negative impact of racism,

racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the situation of persons

belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, and drawing attention to

the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in

September 2001 by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,

Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, including the provisions on forms of multiple

discrimination,

Emphasizing the importance of dialogue among all relevant stakeholders on the

promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious

and linguistic minorities as an integral part of the development of society as a whole,

including the sharing of best practices, such as for the promotion of mutual understanding

of minority issues, managing diversity by recognizing plural identities, and promoting

inclusive and stable societies, as well as social cohesion therein,

Emphasizing also the importance of national processes aimed at promoting and

strengthening dialogue between all relevant stakeholders on issues relating to the rights of

persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities with a view to

ensuring the realization of their rights without discrimination and to help build stable

societies,

Emphasizing further the important role that national institutions can play in the

promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious

and linguistic minorities, as well as in early warning and awareness-raising measures to

address problems regarding minority situations,

1. Takes note of the report of the Independent Expert on minority issues,1 which

contains, inter alia, an update on the work of the Forum on Minority Issues;

2. Also takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and

linguistic minorities;A/HRC/19/27.

3. Further takes note of the completion of the first four sessions of the Forum

on Minority Issues, addressing the right to education, the right to effective political

participation, the right to effective participation in economic life and the rights of minority

women and girls and which, through the widespread participation of stakeholders, has

provided an important platform for promoting dialogue on these topics, and encourages

States to take into consideration, as appropriate, relevant recommendations of the Forum;

4. Commends the Forum for its contribution to the efforts of the High

Commissioner to improve cooperation among United Nations mechanisms, bodies and

specialized agencies, funds and programmes on activities relating to the promotion and

protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, including at the regional level,

and expresses its expectation that the Forum will continue to contribute to those efforts;

5. Reaffirms the role of the Forum as an important platform for promoting

dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to persons belonging to national or ethnic,

religious and linguistic minorities, which provides thematic contributions and expertise to

the work of the Independent Expert and identifies best practices, challenges, opportunities

and initiatives for the further implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons

Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities;

6. Decides that the Forum shall remain open to the participation of States,

United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes,

intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations and mechanisms in the field of

human rights, national human rights institutions and other relevant national bodies,

academics and experts on minority issues and non-governmental organizations in

consultative status with the Economic and Social Council; the Forum shall also remain

open to other non-governmental organizations whose aims and purposes are in conformity

with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, based on

arrangements, including Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996,

and practices observed by the Commission on Human Rights, through an open and

transparent accreditation procedure in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the

Human Rights Council, which will provide for the timely information on participation and

consultations with States concerned;

7. Invites States, United Nations mechanisms, bodies, specialized agencies,

funds and programmes, and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental

organizations and national human rights institutions, as well as academics and experts on

minority issues, to continue to participate actively in the sessions of the Forum;

8. Decides that the Forum shall continue to meet annually for two working days

allocated to thematic discussions;

9. Requests the President of the Human Rights Council to continue to appoint

for each session, on the basis of regional rotation, and in consultation with regional groups,

a chairperson of the Forum among experts on minority issues, nominated by members and

observers of the Council; the chairperson, serving in his/her personal capacity, shall be

responsible for the preparation of a summary of the discussion of the Forum, to be made

available to all participants of the Forum;

10. Decides that the Independent Expert shall continue to guide the work of the

Forum and prepare its annual meetings, and invites him/her to report on the thematic

recommendations of the Forum and make recommendations for future thematic subjects,

for consideration by the Human Rights Council;

11. Requests the High Commissioner to provide all the necessary support to

facilitate, in a transparent manner, the convening of the Forum and the participation of

relevant stakeholders from every region in its meetings, giving particular attention to

ensuring the broadest possible and equitable participation, including, in particular, the

representation of women;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Forum, from within existing

resources of the United Nations, with all the services and facilities necessary to fulfil its

mandate;

13. Invites the High Commissioner to continue to seek voluntary contributions to

the Forum to facilitate participation, in particular of those coming from developing

countries, and in doing so to pay particular attention to ensuring the participation of young

people and women;

14. Decides to continue consideration of this important matter at a future session

in conformity with its annual programme of work.

54th meeting

23 March 2012

[Adopted without a vote.]