A/HRC/28/27 9. In cooperation with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and the Alliance of Iraqi Minorities, OHCHR organized the Conference on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Iraq’s Diverse Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Communities. Held in Baghdad from 26 to 28 March 2014, the conference was the first to bring together representatives of all of Iraq’s ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural communities. The issues discussed at the conference included developing strategies to strengthen (a) protection and security; (b) effective political and economic participation; (c) enjoyment of social cultural rights, with a specific focus on education; and (d) representation of various communities. The outcome of the conference was a declaration/statement of principles on rights and protections for Iraq’s diverse ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic communities, and a road map to ensure the protection of members of minorities from violence and to enhance their equal participation in public life. In addition, a committee was established to follow up on the road map and to prepare an action plan for its implementation. 10. In its August 2014 report, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic reported that members of ISIL had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity and posed a clear and present danger to civilians — and particularly minorities — under its control in the Syrian Arab Republic and in the region. 11. In Libya, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2144 (2014), which defines the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), including its Human Rights Division, the OHCHR human rights component continued to engage with minority groups and to monitor and report on violations against minorities within its general monitoring mandate. UNSMIL held meetings with representatives from the Amazigh Supreme Council, the National Tabu Gathering and the Tuareg Supreme Council, as well as with human rights defenders and members of the Parliament. 12. In Yemen, with a view to ensuring that the Muhamasheen participated in the post2015 development agenda consultations, OHCHR conducted a workshop for a group of 30 representatives from that community, so that they could voice their priority concerns and their perspectives on future solutions. Muhamasheen representatives were invited to take part in a consultation with OHCHR’s Yemen office during the preparation of the OHCHR country office note, and in the technical meetings for the development of Yemen’s national human rights strategy. They also took part in a number of capacity-building activities organized by OHCHR that were focused on anti-discrimination and minority rights. 13. As part of the implementation of the guidance note, OHCHR organized a regional consultation on minority rights in the Middle East and North Africa region, entitled “Strengthening minority rights protection in the Middle East and North Africa region through national implementation of recommendations from the United Nations human rights machinery”. Held in Tunis on 2 and 3 December 2014, the consultation allowed participants, who included representatives of national human rights institutions, nongovernmental organizations, the media, and United Nations entities, to share strategies and tools for national actors to translate recommendations into action. Participants also explored the relationship between United Nations mechanisms and national frameworks and institutions, and how they could interact to promote the rights of minorities at the national and regional levels. 14. The conclusions of the consultation included (a) a review of the status of implementation of minority rights recommendations specific to the region and emanating from treaty bodies, the universal periodic review and special procedures; (b) requirements for compliance with minority rights principles in the region: what works, especially regarding the situation of minority women and girls; and (c) recommendations for future work to strengthen the engagement of various stakeholders and of the United Nations system as a whole. 5