A/72/165 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with Assembly resolution 70/166 and Human Rights Council resolution 34/6. 2. Section II of the report provides a brief overview of all the thematic reports submitted by the Special Rapporteur throughout her tenure. Section III focuses on follow-up to her country missions, in particular the implementation of the recommendations. Section IV provides an overview of communications sent. Section V covers the Forum on Minority Issues. Section VI presents the main findings of the analysis of the recommendations on minorities during the second cycle of the universal periodic review process. The final section contains overarching conclusions and recommendations. II. Main concerns and recommendations from all thematic reports A. Reports to the General Assembly 3. Since the establishment of the mandate, the mandate holders have submitted annual thematic reports to the Human Rights Council. Sinc e 2012, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 66/166, the mandate holder has also submitted annual reports to the Assembly. The present section provides an overview of the content and recommendations of the reports of the outgoing Special Rapporteur. 1. 2012: Role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights (A/67/293) 4. In her first report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur emphasizes that ensuring the enjoyment of minority rights and equality in practice requires an understanding and appreciation of minority issues and problems facing minorities. Positive change in the situations of disadvantaged minorities can be provided by appropriate institutional attention to minority rights and a policy and programme framework within which to address minority issues. Legislative protection of minority rights in national law is an essential foundation. The logical next step, from legislation to concrete action for the protection and promotion of minority rights, is provided by institutional attention. 5. Dedicated institutional attention provides the necessary impetus fo r the proactive implementation of minority rights, including positive measures, consultative and participatory mechanisms and processes, and activities directed towards disadvantaged minorities, which are often lacking. In States in which minority populations are significant, where inter-community relations are complex, where long-term challenges persist or where ethnic or religious tensions or conflict exist or have previously occurred, institutional attention may be particularly appropriate. 6. In her report, the Special Rapporteur considers essential elements of institutional attention to minority issues and provides an overview of some practices adopted by States and the functions, roles and activities of institutions in respect of promoting and protecting the rights of minorities. A key recommendation is that States consider institutional attention to minority rights as an essential component of their human rights, equality and non-discrimination obligations and as a means of practically implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. 17-12138 3/22