A/HRC/19/27 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 9 December 2011 Original: English Human Rights Council Nineteenth session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Summary The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 13/12. It provides information on the relevant developments in the work of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms, as well as on the activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at Headquarters and in the field that contribute to the promotion and implementation of rights provided for under the Declaration on Minorities on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The activities summarized in the report are guided by applicable human rights standards and, in particular, the provisions of the Declaration on Minorities pertaining to minorities and the protection of their existence, their identity, the exercise of rights without discrimination and the right to effective participation in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life. The report covers the period from January to December 2011. GE.11-17278