A/HRC/4/109 page 2 I. INTRODUCTION 1. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/251, all mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights were assumed as of 19 June 2006 by the Human Rights Council. In accordance with the same resolution, the Council is in the process of reviewing all mandates and mechanisms. The present report is submitted in accordance with that resolution and Council decision 2/102 and pursuant to Commission resolution 2005/79 in which the Commission requested the Secretary-General to review the performance and effectiveness of the independent expert on minority issues and the Working Group on Minorities after two years and to report to the Commission on the matter (para. 14). 2. The report covers developments concerning minorities and activities undertaken by the United Nations, with a particular focus on the work of the two mechanisms. 3. With respect to recent developments, the 2005 World Summit Outcome reaffirmed the importance of minority rights’ protection and promotion to the work of the United Nations, stating that “the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society” (para. 130). This reiterates global positions enunciated in previous statements of global commitment. For example, States resolved in the Millennium Declaration “[t]o strengthen the capacity of all our countries to implement the principles and practices of democracy and respect for human rights, including minority rights” (para. 25). The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance “[u]rges States to protect the national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and to develop appropriate legislative and other measures to encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity, in order to protect them from any form of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In this context, forms of multiple discrimination should be fully taken into account;” (Programme of Action, para. 172). 4. Calls for the promotion of intra- and inter-ethnic, religious and community dialogue and the sharing of experiences to meet the challenges to the integration of diversity and counter exclusive ideologies and extremism have also moved higher on the international agenda, following the reference in paragraph 144 of the World Summit Outcome to the Secretary-General’s Alliance of Civilizations initiative and the release of the report of the High-level Group under the initiative. The report notes in its paragraph 6.22 that “[e]stablishing coherent integration strategies requires regular dialogue among representatives of government and immigrant communities, civil society representatives, religious organizations and employers, engaging at local, regional, national and international levels. While informal and ad hoc engagement is valuable, institutional structures that support dialogue on a regular ongoing basis can ensure the efficacy of such approaches in promoting greater integration. Such efforts help achieve a balance between the demands of integration and the need to maintain one’s cultural and religious identity” (see www.unaoc.org). 5. As Member States have recognized at the 2005 World Summit and other recent forums, the inclusion and full participation of minorities and other disadvantaged and marginalized groups in local, national and international affairs is of direct importance to global efforts to address the challenges of development and peace and security. The efforts of Member States