A/78/306 7. International art contest for minority artists 36. In 2022, OHCHR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Freemuse and Minority Rights Group International launched the first edition of the International Art Contest for Minority Artists, with a focus on minority artists working on statelessness themes. On 3 November 2022, a hybrid award ceremony was held in Geneva and online at which three minority artists working on statelessness themes were presented with awards. The award ceremony also marked the launch of an exhibition and catalogue featuring the artwork of seven laureates, information on minority statelessness and the right to nationality, and details of global action to end statelessness. OHCHR and its partners decided to continue joint efforts in 2023 to shed light on the plight that minority communities are facing in all areas of life by organizing a second edition of the International Art Contest, for minority artists working on intersectionality. 16 8. Minorities Fellowship Programme 37. OHCHR continued to organize the Minorities Fellowship Programme, which aims to reinforce the knowledge of minorities of the United Nations system and international human rights instruments and mechanisms so that they can better promote and protect the rights of minorities in their communities. In 2022, OHCHR recruited 11 (3 women and 8 men) former minority fellows as senior fellows in their home regions. Three senior fellows were assigned to OHCHR regional offices. In May 2022, OHCHR launched an intersectionality component of the Minorities Fellowship Programme and extended the Programme to former OHCHR fellows of African descent to promote inclusion and diversity while at the sam e time addressing persistent and multiple forms of discrimination. In 2022, five new senior fellows were recruited under the component. Seven former minority fellows and current minority senior fellows received small grants to carry out projects commemorat ing the adoption of the Declaration, in the light of its thirtieth anniversary. The projects are currently being implemented in seven countries in various regions. 9. Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent 38. In order to advance equality, OHCHR strengthened capacity through its Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent. In 2022, 11 fellows of African descent (8 women and 3 men) from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America participated in the programme. Within the framework of the International Decade for People of African Descent, grants were allocated to two projects developed by organizations representing people of African descent in Ecuador and Haiti, respectively. B. Activities at the country level 1. Central Asia 39. In 2022, in Kyrgyzstan, following recommendations from the Special Rapporteur on minority issues regarding the underrepresent ation of ethnic minorities in State structures, gaps in minority language education, and the shrinking of civic space (see A/HRC/46/57/Add.1), the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia continued to advocate for the adoption of anti-discrimination legislation and provided capacity to human rights advocates representing multi-ethnic communities. __________________ 16 10/17 See www.un.org/en/academic-impact/international-art-contest-minority-artists. 23-15674