A/54/303 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 2 September 1999 Original: English Fifty-fourth session Item 117 (b) of the provisional agenda* Human rights questions: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities Report of the Secretary-General I. Introduction 1. The General Assembly, by resolution 52/123 of 12 December 1997, on the effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, inter alia: called upon the Secretary-General to make available, at the request of Governments concerned, qualified expertise on minority issues, including the prevention and resolution of disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations involving minorities; requested the High Commissioner to continue her efforts to improve the coordination and cooperation among United Nations programmes and agencies on activities related to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities; urged all treaty bodies to give due regard, within their respective mandates, to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities; called upon all special representatives, special rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give attention, within their respective mandates, to situations involving minorities; and encouraged intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to * A/54/150. 99-25430 (E) 021099 continue to contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities. 2. By the same resolution, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-fourth session on the implementation of the resolution. The present report is submitted to the General Assembly in pursuance of that request. II. Provision of qualified expertise on minority issues 3. Under the leadership of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation is aimed at assisting Governments, at their request, in promoting and protecting human rights at the national and regional levels. In the area of minority protection, Governments may request expertise on minority issues, including the prevention of disputes, to assist in the existing or potential situations involving minorities. 4. Although there was no specific request for assistance in the area of minority protection during the period under review, a number of projects undertaken are relevant and