-2Excellencies, Distinguished members of the United Nations, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to be with you today to address the 15th session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues, which is dedicated this year to marking the 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Since its adoption in 1992, this important document is the only global instrument designated for, and dedicated to, the protection of minority rights, building upon and reinforcing the rights enshrined in the UN human rights framework to protect and promote the existence, equality, identity and effective participation of national or ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities. Coincidentally, my mandate was also established 30 years ago by the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, which is now the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; the OSCE. My Institution provides early warning and early action to prevent conflict resulting from tensions involving national minority issues. I engage in quiet diplomacy and provide tailored expertise to the 57 OSCE participating States to support the integration of their diverse societies. Drawing on years of experience in the field, six successive High Commissioners have identified recurrent issues that either cause, or are linked to, tensions involving national minorities. These are policy areas that, if addressed accurately, could mitigate the risk of conflicts and serve as an effective conflict prevention strategy and are captured in the nine sets of thematic Recommendations and Guidelines issued by my office since 1996. The HCNM Recommendations and Guidelines are complementary to the provisions of the UN Minorities Declaration. This gives us a basis to build on each other’s expertise to promote diversity and encourage States to create the right conditions for everyone to feel included and empowered. I firmly believe that international norms are the most significant tool to guide States. Although my mandate does not include either advocating for, or protecting, human rights, it is important to recognize that human rights are an essential tool in conflict prevention.