Special Rapporteur set out in his report to the General Assembly7 as well as to share their views on the evolution and positioning of the Declaration in the institutions, structuresand initiatives of the United Nations. Presentations on the topic under discussion were made by the following panelists: Mr. Mohammad Shahabudin, Chair in International Law and Human Rights, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham; Ms. Anna-Maria Biró, Director of the Rom Lantos Institute; Mr. Ojot Ojulu, East Africa Regional representative for the Danish Institute for Human Rights and Mr. Pere Aragonès i Garcia, President of the Regional Government of Catalonia. Mr. Mohammad Shahabudin focuses on the socioeconomic rights of minorities in relation to economic progress and development. He pointed out the article 4, clause 5 of the Declaration by which States should consider appropriate measures so that minorities may participate fully in economic progress and development in their country. Finally, he called for a minority rights treaty to ensure new ways to ensure accountability in benefit of minorities and for devising mandatory protection norms and the implementation with intersectional approaches, such as for women issues8. Ms. Anna-Maria Biró recalled that within the remits of the United Nations, there is the generalized protection of minorities across several treaties; therefore the elaboration of the UN Declaration, designated specifically to minorities, was a significant achievement. However, she stressed that the process of elaboration of the Declaration lacked effective participation from minority groups themselves. She pointed out a significant protection gap for minorities that needs to be addressed in the context of normative instruments in the UN and stressed the need for a legally binding treaty on minority rights. She recommended the expansion of the scope of international minority protection to include caste-affected groups and she indicated gaps to be addressed such as rights against hate crimes, land rights, freedom of religion and right to participation in decision-making9. Mr. Ojot Ojulu raised the issue of minority rights in conflict situation, where minorities most often are scapegoated, blackmailed and persecuted and left out during and after conflicts. He also highlighted issues of minority rights in digital space, which are entrenching racial inequality, discrimination and intolerance; and the situation of minorities who are internally displaced, migrants and refugees facing discrimination. He also called UN agencies to develop and enforce specific guidelines for identifying and supporting minorities in IDPs and refugee situations. Mr. Ojulu shared his concerns about minorities who are persecuted and condemned due to their sexual orientation and gender identity. He called to intersectional protection mechanisms for minorities while ensuring that minority rights are mainstreamed within the entire UN system10. 7 A/77/246. The integral version of the statement can be consulted on the Human Rights Council Extranet: Pages - 15th session (ohchr.org) 9 The integral version of the statement can be consulted on the Human Rights Council Extranet: Pages - 15th session (ohchr.org) 10 The integral version of the statement can be consulted on the Human Rights Council Extranet: Pages - 15th session (ohchr.org) 8