The First Mandate: Experiences and Lessons Learned Gay J. McDougall Former Independent Expert on Minority Issues I. Introduction From 2005 through most of 2011, it was my privilege and my pleasure to serve as the first United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues under the mandate first established by what was then the Commission on Human Rights. In 2008, the mandate was reviewed and confirmed by the then new Human Rights Council. Commission resolution 2005/79, which establishes the independent expert’s mandate, in paragraph 6 requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to appoint an independent expert on minority issues for a period of two years, with the mandate: (a) To promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, including through consultations with Governments, taking into account existing international standards and national legislation concerning minorities; (b) To identify best practices and possibilities for technical cooperation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at the request of Governments; (c) To apply a gender perspective in his or her work; (d) To cooperate closely, while avoiding duplication, with existing relevant United Nations bodies, mandates, mechanisms as well as regional organizations; and (e) To take into account the views of non-governmental organizations on matters pertaining to his or her mandate. Based on the Declaration, the Commentary developed by the Working Group on Minorities and the other relevant international norms, I distilled four broad areas of concern relating to minorities around the world, based on the Declaration on the Rights of Minorities and other relevant international standards relating to minority rights:(a) Protecting a minority’s existence, including through protection of their physical integrity and the prevention of genocide; (b)