A/HRC/22/27
27.
They also explored how the United Nations could support constitution-making
rooted in human rights, including efforts to promote inclusivity and meaningful
participation. Participants also made suggestions aimed at enhancing collaboration among
human rights mechanisms at the international, regional and national levels, with a view to
encouraging systematic integration of the protection of minorities in constitutions,
legislations and policies. While the focus of the consultation was on constitutional reforms,
the participants also examined practical issues from a regional perspective, by discussing
both positive examples and challenges to be tackled.
B.
Forum on Minority Issues
28.
In commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the 1992 Declaration on Minority
Rights, the fifth session of the Forum on Minority Issues focused on the theme
“Implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic,
Religious and Linguistic Minorities: identifying positive practices and opportunities”. Held
on 27 and 28 November, this session of the Forum offered an opportunity to examine the
diverse ways in which the Declaration has been used and implemented in practice.
Benefiting from the perspectives offered by different stakeholders, the Forum was a venue
for discussion of the impact of the Declaration on national legislation, institutional
mechanisms and activities to advance the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
29.
The fifth session of the Forum was framed around core questions on the Declaration,
including the following: “How has the Declaration been useful in your work and efforts
towards protecting and promoting the rights of minorities?” and “How can awareness and
implementation of the Declaration be improved?” Contributions of participants relating to
the Declaration and how it has been and continues to be used provided additional insights
on how to translate its provisions into concrete action. These practical suggestions
contributed to the set of recommendations of the Forum, which will be submitted to the
Human Rights Council.
30.
Consistent with past practice, on the day preceding the session of the Forum (26
November 2012), OHCHR held a dialogue with minority representatives and other
stakeholders. Participants discussed their engagement in the implementation of the
Declaration and shared their visions on how best to do so, including through more
coordinated collaboration.
C.
Minorities fellowship programme
31.
The annual minorities fellowship programme for persons belonging to national,
ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities took place from 29 October to 30 November. The
programme comprised two linguistic components (Arabic and English); participants came
from Algeria, Cameroon, Colombia, India, Jordan, Kenya, the Republic of Moldova, the
Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen. The fellowship enables individuals from minority
groups to gain knowledge of the United Nations system and mechanisms dealing with
international human rights in general and minority rights in particular. It is aimed at
strengthening advocacy skills and assisting the fellows in improving their work, at the
national level and in their communities back home, to enhance protection of minority
rights. Throughout the five-week programme, the fellows attend briefings on a wide variety
of human rights topics and undertake individual and group assignments.
32.
In 2012, the programme offered the opportunity for the fellows to contribute to the
twentieth anniversary commemorations by participating in the fifth session of the Forum on
Minority Issues. The fellows collaborated in teams to deliver an intervention on what the
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