A/HRC/19/56 minorities caucus would offer enhanced opportunities to promote awareness of the Declaration on Minorities and its establishment would be timely in 2012, which is the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration. 47. Network members would be an important source of information and expertise for the work of the independent expert and help to create awareness of the mandate across different regions and contribute systematically to the work of the mandate. A caucus would strengthen opportunities to share good practices and positive initiatives, improve information sharing by the United Nations to minorities relating to United Nations activities and events relevant to minorities, provide enhanced channels of communication regarding the provision of information relating to violations of the rights of minorities, and allow for joint initiatives. Reflecting on the need for effective early warning mechanisms to alert the international community to situations of concern involving minorities, the independent expert believes that the establishment of a global caucus could enhance efforts in this respect and improve timely provision of information on deteriorating situations. 48. A minorities caucus could benefit from and be based upon existing United Nations contacts with minorities including: minority participants in the Forum on Minority Issues; participants in the United Nations Minority Fellowship Programme; contacts established through country visits of the mandate and through thematic initiatives of the independent expert. In addition, NGOs and others working in the field of minority issues in all regions would be invited to propose organizations and individuals to join the caucus. Academics, researchers, regional and country experts and those with particular thematic expertise relating to minority issues will also make a valuable contribution to discussions and initiatives of the proposed caucus. IV. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 49. The year 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption by consensus of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. In 1992, inspired by the provisions of article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the rights of persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, all United Nations Member States agreed that the rights of minorities warranted particular attention by the United Nations and that the United Nations has an important role to play regarding the protection of minorities. 50. It is notable that the Declaration states in its preambular paragraphs that “the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to the political and social stability of States in which they live” and that “the constant promotion and realization of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as an integral part of the development of society as a whole and within a democratic framework based on the rule of law, would contribute to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation among peoples and States”. 51. The independent expert particularly draws the attention of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to article 9 of the Declaration which states that they “shall contribute to the full realization of the rights and principles set forth in the present Declaration, within their respective fields of competence”. In this regard she welcomes the continuing cooperation and collaboration of specialized agencies, treaty bodies and others with her mandate relating to their work on minority issues and invites them to consider participating in and initiating activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the Declaration. 13