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pluralistic societies. The designation of minority focal points in all United Nations field
offices would be another great step forward.
100. The Special Rapporteur has repeatedly emphasized that the collection and
statistical analysis of disaggregated data on minorities are crucial to obtain important
baseline information on the actual situation and status of minority communities. Such
data would allow for adequate policy responses to minority issues, including the
establishment and monitoring of targeted actions and programmes to prevent and
address poverty, exclusion and discrimination. The Special Rapporteur urges States to
collect data disaggregated on the basis of, inter alia, gender, ethnicity, language and
religious affiliation. Individuals should be able to self-identify and express multiple
identities. Data collection should be periodic and comply with international standards
of privacy and personal data protection.
101. Minorities remain among the poorest and the most socially and economically
excluded and marginalized communities globally, yet targeted attention to their
situations is lacking. The Special Rapporteur believes that the adoption of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, although it failed to include an explicit
reference to minorities, provides important momentum for their inclusion in the
actions to be undertaken for its implementation. She firmly believes that the
successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda can only be achieved by taking into
consideration the situation of minorities, and calls on States to fulfil in practice the
principle of leaving no one behind.
102. Next year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights
of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. This
anniversary constitutes a reminder of and a crucial opportunity to strengthen
international standards on minority rights protection. The Special Rapporteur
encourages United Nations offices and agencies, Member States and civil society and
minority representatives to organize specific initiatives to mark this important
anniversary to further promote awareness of the Declaration and to use the
opportunity to revisit specific issues most relevant to minorities.
103. Next year also marks the tenth anniversary of the creation of the Forum on
Minority Issues. This will provide a unique opportunity to discuss how to strengthen
and support the functioning of this unique and global platform to facilitate dialogue
and address relevant issues pertaining to minorities. The Forum should be provided
with the necessary resources to fully implement its mandate. The Special Rapporteur
encourages consideration to be given to raising the Forum’s profile at the regional and
international levels, following up the implementation of its recommendations,
fostering ownership of the Forum’s agenda by minorities and promoting a more
interactive dialogue and discussions during the Forum’s sessions.
104. The Special Rapporteur particularly encourages OHCHR to launch an
awareness-raising and action campaign, including through the United Nations
network on racial discrimination and the protection of minorities, on the occasion of
the two anniversaries. Such a campaign should advocate for better mainstreaming of
minority rights across United Nations departments and agencies and could highlight
the most important emerging issues and best practices to assist Member States in
strengthening their minority rights protection efforts.
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