are targeted for civil rights violations and atrocity crimes on the basis of their identity for which they need a stronger protection framework. 3) Providing greater emphasis on minorities’ socio-economic and cultural rights I recognise that treaties are not formed overnight, in the interim, I call on states to strengthen this forum, support it with regional forums, increase the number of days and create an expert mechanism mandated to review the implementation of the declaration by states (specifically under articles 1, 4-6) and UN agencies (under article 9). The current UN network on racial discrimination and minorities needs to be incorporated into the Forum. Taking into consideration the recommendations made in this forum, I call on the UN Secretary General to commission a high-level panel to review the limitations of the current framework and make recommendations for reform. In the last few days we have heard growing calls for an expanded, stronger, robust legal framework on minority rights. I urge states to heed this call. Strategies pursued in the recent years of ‘problematising,’ ‘otherising,’ ‘attacking,’ ‘persecuting,’ ‘securitising’ minorities have not worked, leaders need to acknowledge that minority rights are at the core of creating stable, united peaceful states. Change also requires champions, and this is the moment for states which genuinely believe in the promotion and protection of minority rights to come forward and take the lead. A decade ago at the 20th anniversary of this declaration, states dismissed similar calls for a stronger framework. Please let us not have to repeat this discussion in ten years ,and instead be able to welcome a new legally binding framework for the protection and promotion of minority rights. Thank you