A/HRC/58/69 6. The recommendations of the Forum at its seventeenth session are organized under a set of general recommendations, followed by more specific recommendations, which are classified according to the four panel discussions that were held during the session. The recommendations: (a) Aim to guide policy and practice at local, national and international levels, contributing to the integration of minority issues into broader institutional frameworks and efforts towards cohesive and equitable societies; (b) Are intended to leverage opportunities, practices and initiatives that strengthen the inclusion of minority groups, in line with the principles and rights enshrined in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other relevant international instruments; (c) Emphasize an intersectional approach, addressing the compounded challenges faced by minority women and other vulnerable groups; (d) Reflect the recognition of the important role that the United Nations, as well as other international and regional organizations, civil society organizations, representatives of minority groups and other stakeholders can play in promoting fair minority representation. 7. The recommendations build on the recommendations prepared at earlier sessions of the Forum, in particular at the twelfth session, on “Education, language and the human rights of minorities”,1 the thirteenth session, on “Hate speech, social media and minorities”,2 and the sixteenth session, on “Minorities and cohesive societies: equality, social inclusion and socioeconomic participation”.3 They also follow up on the recommendations of the thematic reports of the Special Rapporteurs on Minority Issues, in particular the report to the Human Rights Council in 2021 on “Hate speech, social media and minorities”.4 8. The recommendations are intended to be implemented in countries across the world and to assist States, private companies and other stakeholders in gaining a better understanding of their human rights obligations in relation to the promotion and protection of the fair representation of minority groups. II. General recommendations 9. On the basis of the four panel discussions held at the seventeenth session of the Forum, the Special Rapporteur proposes the following general recommendations: (a) States should become parties and adhere to all international and regional human rights instruments that protect and promote the human rights of persons belonging to minority groups; (b) States should ensure the full implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; (c) States should encourage the ongoing engagement of stakeholders in the Forum on Minority Issues in order to foster dialogue and cooperation, while acknowledging the valuable guidance produced by the Forum and emphasizing its relevance to human rights actors at the international, regional and national levels; (d) States should strengthen the Forum on Minority Issues by supporting the establishment of a voluntary fund to promote the meaningful participation of civil society and representatives of minority groups in the Forum; (e) States should recognize the importance of minority groups in creating flourishing and stable societies and the role of celebrating diversity in contributing to societal cohesion; 1 2 3 4 GE.25-00303 A/HRC/FMI/2019/1. A/HRC/46/58. A/HRC/55/70. A/HRC/46/57. 3