A/HRC/15/42 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 13/12, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to present an annual report to the Council containing information on relevant developments of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms, as well as on the activities undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner at Headquarters and in the field that contribute to the promotion of and respect for the provisions of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. 2. Prior to resolution 13/12, the High Commissioner had submitted reports to the Council pursuant to its decision 2/102, in which it requested the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to continue with the fulfilment of their activities, in accordance with all previous decisions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and to update the relevant reports and studies. Accordingly, reports on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities were submitted under item 2 to the Council at its fourth (A/HRC/4/109), ninth (A/HRC/9/8) and tenth sessions (A/HRC/10/38 and Add.1). 3. The present report contains an outline of the main activities undertaken in the course of 2009 and part of 2010 by OHCHR, both at Headquarters and in the field, to strengthen the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities pursuant to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The report also provides a review of relevant developments arising from treaty-based bodies and special procedures. 4. The report describes the efforts made by OHCHR and the United Nations human rights machinery to strengthen the use of the Declaration. Adopted in 1992 by consensus by the General Assembly, the Declaration is the tool of reference in the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities at national and international levels, and offers important guidance in efforts to advance minority rights within the United Nations and other forums. Given its specific standards on key issues, such as participation, the Declaration is an essential complement to minority-specific human rights treaty provisions, such as article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 5. The activities summarized in the report demonstrate that particular efforts have been made by OHCHR, the independent expert on minority issues and the Forum on Minority Issues to contribute to the promotion and protection of the right of persons belonging to minorities. The fundamental nature of this right is such that, in many cases, other human rights can only be enjoyed or exercised if it is secured. As such, whether in the administration of justice, including law enforcement, or political participation, the right to effective participation is essential to the enjoyment of rights in accordance with the principles of non-discrimination and equality before the law. II. Work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at Headquarters and in the field 6. The work of OHCHR in 2009 in relation to minorities was guided by the High Commissioner’s Strategic Management Plan for the period 2008–2009. In this regard, particular focus was placed on the thematic area of anti-discrimination through effective participation of persons belonging to minorities, particularly in law enforcement institutions GE.10-14893 3