Summary

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes, provides an overview of his activities since his previous report (A/HRC/49/46) and the activities marking the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities (the UN Declaration). It also contains a thematic report on moving forward in recognizing and protecting the rights of minorities at the United Nations which critically reviews and assesses the implementation of the UN Declaration since its adoption. Echoing the UN Secretary General António Guterres’ observation “that – thirty years on – the world is falling short. Far short. We are not dealing with gaps – we are dealing with outright inaction and negligence in the protection of minority rights”, the Special Rapporteur points to little or no significant development institutionally at the UN for advancing the protection of minorities when compared to other marginalised groups. He describes the widespread views expressed by most minority rights activists and representatives of the urgent need to mainstream the protection of the rights of minorities at the United Nations and further develop mechanisms to better ensure the protection minority rights as has increasingly been the case for other marginalised groups. Among the recommendations which were widely supported during the Special Rapporteur’s regional forums and at the UN Forum on minority issues are proposals for States and to begin work towards a legally binding instrument, the consolidation of regional forums on minorities at the United Nations, and, amongst others, the creation of a permanent forum and voluntary fund for minorities at the UN.