A/80/186 Nations system in mainstreaming minority rights, including the Guidance Note on Intersectionality, Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities 55 and a checklist to strengthen the work of the United Nations at the country level to combat racial discrimination and advance minority rights that was translated into several languages. 56 The network also developed a training package for United Nations country teams. In addition, the network organizes side events at Human Rights Council sessions and community-of-practice meetings for United Nations country teams. The Special Rapporteur had the opportunity to attend online sessions of the network. He noted that only a small number of network members had attended those session and that the meeting in which he had participated could have benefitted from more clearly defined outcomes. The Special Rapporteur considers that this potentially important platform is underused and does not have the resources needed to promote minority issues within the United Nations system. He strongly recommends revitalizing the network and better focusing its effort s on concrete coordination and seeking synergies to advance the cause of minorities. 61. The Faith for Rights initiative of OHCHR deals with many issues facing religious minorities, a group that is specifically targeted in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Activities in the context of the Faith for Rights initiatives are carried out on the basis of the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence 57 and the Beirut Declaration and its 18 Commitments on Faith for Rights 58. The Special Rapporteur believes that emphasis should be placed on article 18 of the Beirut Declaration, which provides that “[r]eligious communities, their leaders and followers have a role and bear responsibilities independently from public authorities both under national and international legal instruments. By virtue of article 2 (1) of the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion of Belief, ‘no one shall be subject to discrimination by any State, institution, group of persons or person on the grounds of religion or belief’. This provision establishes direct responsibilities of religious institutions, leaders and even each individual within religious or belief communities. ” While acknowledging the relevance of that principle, the Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize that the role and responsibilities of religious communities and their leaders do not in any way minimize the responsibility of States to recognize and to protect religious minorities. 62. Since 2022, OHCHR, with impetus from the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights and in partnership with the civil society organizations Freemuse and Minority Rights Group and the city of Geneva, has organized the International Art Contest for Minority Artists, 59 the results of which are announced each year in connection with the Forum on Minority Issues. Although artistic expression is not one of the classic modes of international cooperation, the Special Rapporteur commends and supports this initiative, which allows persons belonging to minorities to shed a different light on their situation and share their perception of their place in society as a whole. __________________ 55 56 57 58 59 25-11708 United Nations Network on Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Guidance Note on Intersectionality, Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (2022). United Nations Network on Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, “Checklist to strengthen UN work at country level to combat racial discrimination and advance minority rights ”, 2021. Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence (see A/HRC/22/17/Add.4, appendix). See www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/BeirutDeclarationonFaithforRights.pdf . See www.ohchr.org/en/minorities/minority-artists-voice-and-dissidence. 17/21