A/HRC/16/39 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 14 December 2010 Original: English Human Rights Council Sixteenth session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Summary The present report provides a summary of the main developments in the work of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms and of the activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at Headquarters and in the field, that contribute to the promotion and implementation of rights provided for under the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The activities summarized in the report are guided by applicable human rights standards and, in particular, the provisions of the Declaration on Minorities pertaining to minorities and the protection of their existence and identity, the exercise of rights without discrimination and the right to effective participation in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life. The report also reveals shortcomings with regard to measures that could be taken by States to create conditions to achieve the rights listed under the Declaration. Problems affecting minority communities are often linked to violations of the principle of non-discrimination, resulting in their exclusion. Considering that one of the five priorities of the High Commissioner’s Strategic Management Plan for the biennium 2010-2011 is countering discrimination, the Office will continue to make great efforts to promote and protect the rights of minorities through sustained engagement with relevant partners and actors. GE.10-17765