A/70/255 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 3 August 2015 Original: English Seventieth session Item 73 (b) of the provisional agenda* Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities Report of the Secretary-General Summary The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 68/172, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit to it at its seventieth session a report on the implementation of the resolution, including information on activities undertaken by Member States, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Independent Expert on minority issues, relevant United Nations entities and other relevant stakeholders to enhance the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and to ensure the realization of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. Since the previous report (A/68/304), which included information on the commemorative activities in 2012 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration, various initiatives have been undertaken, including by the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities. The present report outlines activities conducted with a view to increasing the visibility of the Declaration and promoting its implementation to advance the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. * A/70/150. 15-12580 (E) 040915 *1512580*