A/HRC/20/6 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 18/3, the Human Rights Council noted that 2012 would mark the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The Council therefore decided to convene, at its nineteenth session, a panel discussion to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, with a particular focus on its implementation as well as on achievements, best practices and challenges in this regard. 2. The anniversary offers an important opportunity to examine how the Declaration has served the purpose of advancing the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. Against this background, the panel discussion was organized to highlight the positive initiatives and good practices that have proved successful in the protection and promotion of the rights of minorities and that could be replicated. Although implementation of the Declaration has facilitated positive measures, the panel discussion also reflected the fact that further efforts are needed to improve its implementation in all countries and regions. In the discussion, the challenges to implementation were identified and possible avenues to overcome these challenges shared. II. Substantive background to the panel discussion 3. Adopted by consensus in 1992,1 the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities remains the first human rights instrument of the United Nations devoted solely to minorities. In the preamble thereto, the General Assembly considered that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities contribute to the political and social stability of States in which they live. The Declaration, which was inspired by article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, contains both the rights pertaining to minorities and the obligations of States with respect to minorities. In its article 1, the Declaration establishes that States are to protect the existence and the national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories, and to encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity. 4. The expert panellists, representing different regions, recalled in their commentaries the fact that a variety of country situations present a range of circumstances and challenges to minorities and States. Nonetheless, the Declaration provided all States with guidance and inspiration on measures and approaches that could apply to a variety of situations and serve to improve protection. The panel discussion contributed by raising awareness and increasing understanding of effective practices and the challenges to be faced. In this regard, the panel addressed the “pillars” on which the Declaration was built: • Protection of existence • Protection and promotion of identity • Equality and non-discrimination • Right to effective participation 1 General Assembly resolution 47/135, annex. 3