A/HRC/55/35 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 10 January 2024 Original: English Human Rights Council Fifty-fifth session 26 February–5 April 2024 Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Summary The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 49/14. It contains information on relevant developments of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms, and on the activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that contribute to the promotion of and respect for the provisions of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities as well as the provisions of relevant international human rights treaties. The report covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2023. It concludes that, despite considerable efforts to meet the goal of the full enjoyment of minority rights, serious challenges remain with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, requiring further concerted action by all relevant stakeholders. It also recognizes the importance of addressing multiple, aggravated and intersecting forms of discrimination against persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and the compounded negative impact of such discrimination on the enjoyment of their rights. GE.23-26212 (E) 090124 090124