A/HRC/20/6
delivered by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, who stressed the
importance of the Declaration with regard to the protection of minorities and called for its
full implementation. She also referred to the decision of the Policy Committee of the
Secretary-General of March 2012, aimed at bolstering system-wide work in this area
through a new United Nations network on racial discrimination and minorities. The
network, to be coordinated by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR), would facilitate collaboration among United Nations entities,
build guidance and help to share effective practices to combat racial discrimination and
protect minority rights. The Policy Committee had also stressed that the twentieth
anniversary of the Declaration should be used to raise awareness and to promote its
implementation, and that staff training initiatives were to be reviewed to ensure that they
adequately addressed non-discrimination and minority rights issues.
10.
The panel discussion was moderated by the Director of Minority Rights Group
International, Mark Lattimer (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). The
panellists included the Independent Expert on minority issues, Rita Izsák; member of the
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Special Rapporteur on the Rights
of Women in Africa, Soyata Maiga (Mali); Head of the Law Department at Middlesex
University (United Kingdom), Professor Joshua Castellino (India); and member of the
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Pastor Elias Murillo Martinez
(Colombia).
11.
The panel adopted an innovative and interactive format, with no presentation other
than the opening address. The moderator set the framework of the discussion. The
discussion was organized into two sequences of approximately 30 minutes each, during
which each of the four panellists would address the questions raised by the moderator.
During the first sequence, the moderator asked a question common to each of the panellists.
During the second sequence, the moderator addressed a specific question to each panellist.
This approach allowed the discussions to address specific issues relating to the
implementation of the Declaration, its achievements and challenges.
IV. Discussion
12.
During the first sequence, all three panellists were asked the question: “The
Declaration provides authoritative guidance and key standards on minority rights ranging
from non-discrimination to participation in decision-making. However, the visibility of the
Declaration remains limited and its provisions are rarely invoked by practitioners. What are
the measures that could be undertaken by different actors, including the Human Rights
Council, to improve the promotion of the Declaration and encourage its implementation?”
A.
First sequence
13.
In their commentaries, all four panelists recognized that the Declaration could
indeed benefit from greater visibility and that the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of
the Declaration provided a great opportunity to draw additional attention to its provisions
and inspire dialogue on minority rights in all regions. In many countries, some of the
principles of the Declaration had been incorporated into constitutions, laws, policies and
practice. Reality had showed, however, that much more needed to be done to ensure that
persons belonging to minority groups were well integrated and able to take part fully in all
aspects of society, without hindrance based on their identity.
14.
The panellists highlighted several initiatives that could be taken by different actors
to improve the promotion of the Declaration and encourage its implementation. The role of
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