A/HRC/61/41 and/or regional levels. In other situations, when such exercise of their rights is realized through civil society organizations, the Special Rapporteur strongly condemns restrictive and discriminatory practices targeting civil society organizations working for the implementation of rights and principles enshrined in article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. He calls upon States to put an end to such abusive and discriminatory practices encroaching the rights of persons belonging to minorities as spelled out in article 27 of the Covenant. 88. With regard to the root causes of minority issues, the Special Rapporteur implores States to better understand the effect of each specific root cause on minority issues, as it will help to find innovative paths to develop and strengthen appropriate instruments thereby allowing for minority issues to be properly addressed at the local, regional national and international levels. 89. Concerning the decolonization of the Russian Empire (see para. 80 above) the Special Rapporteur urges the international community to work on the existing minority issues that it has revealed in the framework of the United Nations as a whole, including from a peace and security perspective. He expresses the wish that his mandate will be able to contribute to understanding and developing the link that must be made between minority and security issues. 90. Concerning the decolonization process that took place in the twentieth century (see para. 78 above), the Special Rapporteur recommends that the very concept of minority rights – especially the relationship of persons belonging to minorities with other members of a society in which there is no dominant ethnic, linguistic or religious group – be reassessed and reframed for such societal contexts, in which minority issues are not linked to a relationship between minorities and a majoritarian group but to the coexistence of numerous non-majoritarian groups. 91. As migrations is a clear root cause of minority issues, the Special Rapporteur urges the many States that deny the fact that migrants settled in their country do face minority issues to revise their outdated understanding of minority issues and to adapt it to the reality of today’s world. 92. As enduring and entrenched social hierarchies are not compatible with the very foundation of universal human rights, according to which all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, the Special Rapporteur calls upon all concerned States to take measure with a view to abolishing such social stratifications, for the benefit of a society based on the equal enjoyment of rights by all. The Special Rapporteur is available to help by sharing best practices and to mobilize support to advance in realizing this Herculean task. 93. Taking note of the specific issues faced by non-sedentary populations, the Special Rapporteur calls for the creation of a specific working group tasked with understanding and tackling the issues faced by such minority communities, as existing mechanisms and principles for minority protections do not seem adequate or efficient to offer specific solutions for the issues of such specific minority groups. 94. As shown above, and taking note of the specificities of each national context and situation with regard to minority issues, the Special Rapporteur calls for States to establish a national plan for addressing the specific minority issues existing within their jurisdiction. 95. The Special Rapporteur also renews his call83 to work on a minority in society index, which would allow for regular and objective monitoring of the situation of persons belonging to minorities, the relationship between these persons and the community as a whole. 83 GE.25-20927 A/80/186, para. 79. 17

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