A/HRC/FMI/2012/2 I. Introduction 1. The fifth session of the Forum on Minority Issues will focus on the topic of “Implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities: Identifying positive practices and opportunities”. 2. In 2012, the United Nations marks the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The Declaration provides authoritative guidance and key standards on minority rights ranging from protection of existence and identity to non-discrimination and participation in economic, social and political life. The twentieth anniversary offers an important opportunity to examine the diverse ways in which the Declaration has been used and implemented in practice and to gain the perspectives of different stakeholders on how it has impacted on aspects of national legislation, institutional mechanisms and their activities to advance the rights of persons belonging to minorities. 3. The fifth session of the Forum will therefore be framed around core questions to all participants, including “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?” Participants will provide practical suggestions on how to translate the provisions of the Declaration into action on the ground. These suggestions will contribute to a set of recommendations of the Forum focused on implementation of the Declaration, which will be presented to the Human Rights Council. 4. Governments, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and minorities themselves will discuss how the Declaration has impacted on aspects of governance, legislation, policy and programming and how its principles have been reflected in work at the national level on minority issues. The views of representatives of regional intergovernmental bodies will also be sought regarding how the Declaration has been used at the regional level as well as how it could further contribute to their efforts to promote minority rights in different regional contexts. At the international level, United Nations bodies, mechanisms, and specialized agencies, including United Nations treaty body representatives and special procedure mandate holders will also present their views on the impact and value of the Declaration in their work. II. Background to the Forum on Minority Issues 5. The aims and objectives of the Forum on Minority Issues were established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 6/15 and renewed by Council resolution 19/23, which require that the Forum, under the guidance and preparation of the Independent Expert on minority issues: (a) Meet annually to provide a platform for dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; (b) Expert; Provide thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the Independent (c) Identify and analyse best practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives for the further implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; (d) Produce thematic recommendations, to be reported to the Council; (e) Contribute to efforts to improve cooperation among United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes on activities relating 2