ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE Member, Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization (UNPO) United Nations Forum on Minority Issues November 27-28, 2012 This language should refer not only to the end of impunity by government actors, but must also stress the duty of governments to force private parties to take responsibility for their violations as well. 4. In regards to paragraphs 51-53, we suggest a more explicit relationship between how minorities are expected to utilize the Declaration, and the corresponding responsibilities of the United Nations and its member states. As a youth advocate for the Assyrians in the Middle East, one of the biggest challenges I face is determining how to make international human rights laws and mechanisms I learn about a reality for my own people, rather than a mere topic of discourse. We urge the Human Rights Council and member states to make the United Nations special procedures referenced in Part C of the Recommendations more accessible to minorities, and to implement as soon as possible the proposed Voluntary Fund. In addition, programs must be developed to promote the education of minority groups and their community organizations on the means available for them to utilize the Declaration. A component of this program should include opening the preparatory meetings normally held the day before the opening of the Forum on Minority Issues to all NGO minority representatives. By opening the prepartory meetings to all minority representatives at the Forum, the Human Rights Council will be helping civil society groups to learn how best to utilize the Forum, and will give representatives more time to meet and exchange ideas with other minority groups. AUA’s belief is that these changes in the recommendations and these developments in UN programing will allow minorities to begin to fulfill their own responsibility to assert their rights. Concluding remarks: The challenge as we move forward is determining what powers minorities can utilize when they are forced to live in circumstances that do not pay homage to the Declaration. Thank you. 307 Orchard City Dr., Suite 202, Campbell, CA AUA.net