A/HRC/52/71 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 13 January 2023 Original: English Human Rights Council Fifty-second session 27 February–31 March 2023 Agenda item 5 Human rights bodies and mechanisms Recommendations of the Forum on Minority Issues at its fifteenth session on the theme “Review, rethink, reform: thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes Summary The recommendations contained in the present report are drawn primarily from the discussions and contributions made by participants at the fifteenth session of the Forum on Minority Issues, held on 1 and 2 December 2022, and from those made at the four regional forums held in 2022. They focus on the theme “Review, rethink, reform: thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” and are the outcome of panel discussions on the following four topics: (a) review: normative frameworks and the mainstreaming of the Declaration at the United Nations; (b) rethink: minority rights defenders and their role in promoting the principles of the Declaration; (c) reform: filling the gaps in the implementation of the human rights of minorities; and (d) open dialogue: urgent situations faced by minorities. The recommendations are based on international law and standards. They aim to provide guidance for the further implementation of the Declaration. GE.22-29477 (E) 130123 130123