Geneva, December 2nd , 2022 Review, rethink reform 30th anniversary, UN declaration on the rights of minorities 1992-2022 Item: 4. Reform: Filling the gaps in the implementation of the Declaration By Aya Manaa, Coalition of Women for Peace, 2017 OHCHR minority fellow. Thank you chairperson, My name is Aya Manaa. A former minority fellow, I am representing the Palestinian national and indigenous minority in Israel. Among the various challenges we continue to endure, I chose to bring to your attention the insecurity and constant fear for our lives due to homicides. Chairperson, 70 percent of all Israeli homicides are Palestinians, though we represent only 20 percent of the population, the surging crime has reached alarming figures this year, with over 100 victims most of them youth, among them 13 women. Recent Knesset research has showed that 76% of Palestinian women murders has not been solved opposite to 32% when the victim is an Israeli. Ladies and gentlemen, the murder of Hiba Manaa, my cousin, remains one of the many unsolved cases, do you think this is justifiable? Secondly, Racism and hate speech has reached levels that require immediate action in last May demonstrations, which led to mass arrests and harassments, and thanks to the special rapporteur on minority issues letter titled, “Israel: Violence, hate speech discrimination against Palestinians must stop”, most of the detainees were released, but some as Adham Bsheer were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Finally, Israel situation in decision making spots is not any better, the last elected Knesset in November, has only 9 Palestinian members out of 120, this is only 8 percent. Thus, my recommendations are as follows: First, I call upon the governments to protect our minorities fundamental right to life and take the necessary measures to prevent crimes against our youth and women. Secondly, I encourage governments to ensure the representation of minorities in the development of policies and laws for achieving their inclusiveness through affirmative actions, such as quotas in parliaments. Finally, I thank the Special Rapporteur for his initiative for the Human Rights Council to bring upon a new United Nations treaty for minorities. I would like also to thank and greet all the minority courageous representatives who are bringing the minority issues and voices to the UN forums and to the special rapporteur’s attention. Thank you- alslam alikum ‫السالم عليكم‬