A/HRC/22/27 1. Human Rights Council panel discussion to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 11. The Human Rights Council decided, in its resolution 18/3, 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, and requested OHCHR to prepare a report on the outcome of the panel discussion in the form of a summary (see A/HRC/20/6 and Corr.1). 12. Consistent with the resolution, the panel discussion was held on 13 March. The participants included experts as well as representatives of States and civil society, who agreed that the Declaration remained a key reference document and that its implementation was vital in order to counter the problems that continued to undermine human rights and often posed a threat to peace and security. The panel discussion also reflected the fact that further efforts were needed to improve implementation in all countries and regions. Challenges to implementation were identified and possible solutions shared. The discussion revealed that a number of States had adopted new measures to combat exclusion of minorities and promote their identities, the full enforcement of which was instrumental in tackling contemporary problems obstructing the protection of the rights of minorities. 13. The panel discussion demonstrated that respect for the principles of the Declaration remained crucial in transition processes. The core principles of equality and nondiscrimination were underscored as prerequisites in securing minority rights. The panel also reiterated that access to quality education played a vital role in combatting discrimination and in building the capacity of minorities to participate in the political, social and economic life of the countries in which they lived. The panel discussion offered an important opportunity to collect good practices on various issues that could be replicated to strengthen the implementation of the Declaration in all regions. 2. Expert seminar on enhancing the effectiveness of international, regional and national human rights mechanisms in protecting and promoting the rights of religious minorities 14. Held in Vienna on 22 and 23 May and organized by OHCHR in cooperation with the Government of Austria, the expert seminar brought together renowned experts on minority rights and freedom of religion or belief, including the Independent Expert on minority issues and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, as well as representatives of Governments, key European organizations and mechanisms dealing with religious minorities, national human rights institutions and civil society. The 67 participants, including representatives of 16 Governments, explored how minority rights could be used more effectively to ensure protection of religious minorities. In addition to reviewing recent developments in the work of relevant human rights mechanisms, the participants made suggestions aimed at enhancing collaboration between these mechanisms at the international, regional and national levels on specific issues and integrating protection of religious minorities more effectively into the work of such mechanisms. 15. The expert seminar offered a unique opportunity to examine closely and substantively the interconnections between minority rights (art. 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Declaration) and the specific human right to freedom of religion or belief (art. 18, para. 1, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) with regard to persons belonging to religious minorities. Interconnections between minority rights and other human rights standards were discussed, in addition to 5