Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues Fifth session Geneva, 27-28 November 201.2 Intervention under the Agenda Item 5: Challenges and problems enc ountered in the prac tic al implementation of the Dec laration. Intervention presented by: Dr. Irad Beldjebel - OHCHR Minorities Fellowship Programme -2012 - Mme Chair Person, Mme Independent Expert, Distinguished delegates and colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank the OHCHR for giving me the opportunity to be part of the 2012 Minorities Fellowship Programme and to take part of this 5th session of the Forum on Minorities Issues. Since 2003, the Christian population of Iraq have been the target of recurrent violence, which the country is facing; Churches destroyed, religious and community leaders killed, kidnappings, killings, discrimination and persecution at different levels have been their daily life, as a consequence, more than half of its original population had left the country, this community is facing challenge of survival. We would like to address the following recommendations : 1. Religious minorities and civil society organizations should work jointly with Iraqi government to implement the declaration on the Rights of Persons. Belonging to National Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. 2. United Nations agencies in collaboration with the civil society and Iraqi government should organize a conference to examine the issue of "minorities in Iraq" to ensure their continuity and activate their role in their countries, as enumerated in article (9). 3. States of the Middle East and North Africa region should promulgate effective decisions that will help protect the Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq and in other countries of the Middle East. 4. We urge Muslim religious leaders, the Arab League and the Conference of Islamic Countries to collaborate and enforce the article (6) by enacting decisions "Fatwa's" that prohibit aggression against the peaceful Christian citizens of Iraq and MENA region, and promote an effective inter religious dialogue.