A/HRC/FMI/2022/1 Panel discussions During the two-day session, participants will be invited to contribute to four panel discussions organized under the theme “Review, rethink, reform: thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities”. Each panel discussion will be introduced briefly by experts. In order to include greater regional input, recommendations emanating from four regional forums, held in 2022 in the regions of the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe and Central Asia, and organized by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, in coordination with the Tom Lantos Institute, will also be considered. Recommendations emanating from the panel discussions will be included in the outcome document that the Special Rapporteur will present to the Human Rights Council at its fiftysecond session. 2. Review: normative frameworks and the mainstreaming of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities at the United Nations Under this item, the Forum will review the scope of the Declaration, the groups that it covers, and those that it leaves behind, and ways in which the scope of the normative framework can be made more relevant and effective. The Declaration, adopted in 1992, remains the only global instrument for the protection of minority rights. It reinforces and builds on the rights enshrined in the United Nations human rights framework and is centred on protecting and promoting the existence, equality, identity and effective participation of national or ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities in all areas covered by the Declaration. Participants will consider the degree to which the Declaration has enabled progress to be achieved in protecting minority rights globally. In his statement 2 to the high-level meeting to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration, on 21 September 2022, the Secretary-General said: “The hard truth is that, 30 years on, the world is falling short. Far short.” As the Special Rapporteur on minority issues pointed out in the concept notes prepared for the four regional forums held in 2022, the Declaration must be better understood, acknowledged and implemented. The Forum will aim to identify best practices and developments from international and regional bodies that present useful models for securing a more effective normative framework. Under this item, participants will be encouraged to take a fresh look at mainstreaming the Declaration and the human rights of minorities within the United Nations system. Participants will consider the findings of the Special Rapporteur set out in his report to the General Assembly,3 and share their views on the evolution and positioning of the Declaration in the institutions, structures and initiatives of the United Nations. 3. Rethink: minority rights defenders and their role in promoting the principles of the Declaration Under this item, the Forum will aim to identify challenges faced by minority rights defenders, in particular women minority rights defenders, best practices and ways to advance defenders’ work in promoting the realization of the Declaration and bringing the principles of the Declaration into practice. Discussions will spotlight the contributions of minority activists in achieving human rights for all. Participants will consider the multidimensional challenges faced by human rights defenders belonging to minority groups, some of which have been extensively reflected upon by the Special Rapporteur,4 with a view to elaborating sustainable solutions. 2 3 4 2 See www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022-09-21/secretary-generals-remarks-the-high-levelmeeting-the-30th-anniversary-of-the-adoption-of-the-declaration-rights-of-persons-belongingnational-or-ethnic-religious-and. A/77/246. See A/HRC/40/60, A/HRC/43/51 and A/HRC/46/35.