Fifth Session — United Nations Forum on Minority Issues "Implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities: Identifying positive practices and opportunities" Geneva, 27 — 28 November 2012 Statement by Austria Mme Chair, First of all, we would like to congratulate you for your appointment as chair of the Forum which is focusing this year on the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. As main sponsor of the resolutions on this issue in the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, Austria is particularly proud and honored to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the adoption of this important document. Adopted by consensus by the General Assembly in 1992, the Declaration is and remains the main international reference document for minority rights. The rights that are enshrined therein can only be guaranteed by the full and effective implementation of the provisions of the Declaration. Here, we are still facing many challenges. After 20 years of existence, the status of implementation is still not satisfactory and its provisions lack attention. Therefore, discussions and initiatives like the Forum on Minority Issues help to raise awareness about the existence of the Declaration and to further promote the rights of persons belonging to minorities. In this context, we would like to express our appreciation for the work done by the OHCHR, including by organizing a series of workshops in different regions of the world celebrating the 20 th anniversary. In May this year, one of these workshops took place in Vienna focusing on the enhancement of the effectiveness of international, regional and national human rights mechanisms in protecting and promoting the rights of religious minorities. We believe that joining forces on such events clearly demonstrates participation of the Declaration. our commitment for the full and effective