Speaker: Hi, I’m [name]. Now we are meeting and celebrating a landmark moment, 30 years since the adoption of the Declaration on Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The [length?] of the Declaration was nine articles as inversely proportional to its importance as the declaration remains the only UN international instrument entirely devoted to minority rights. And it enshrines three core [truths?]: First, minority rights are human rights. Second, protection of minorities is integral to the mission of the United Nations. Third, the promotion of those rights is vital to advancing political and social [stability] and preventing conflict. But the hard truth is that the world failed to achieve the goal of the Declaration even after 30 years. We are now dealing with gaps, more than three quarters of the world still as people [belong] to minorities. We need political leadership and revolution action. Every member state should take concrete steps to protect minorities and their identity. We need a renewed social contract anchored in a comprehensive approach to human rights in every action and decision. Minorities must be meaningfully included as active and equal participants. We need the Declaration to become more powerful, just like the minority groups themselves.