Takes note of the report of the independent expert on minority issues3 and its special focus on the role of the protection of minority rights in conflict prevention;
Also takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities4 and of the compilation of United Nations manuals, guides, training material and other tools on minority issues,5 submitted to the Council at its sixteenth session;
Commends the independent expert on minority issues for her work and for the important role that she has played in raising the level of awareness of and in giving added visibility to the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, and for her ongoing efforts to promote and protect their rights in order to ensure equitable development and peaceful and stable societies, including through close cooperation with Governments, relevant United Nations bodies and mechanisms and non-governmental organizations;
4
Expresses its appreciation to Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that have given special attention to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and have supported the work of the independent expert;
5
Also expresses its appreciation for the successful completion of the first three sessions of the Forum on Minority Issues, addressing the right to education, the right to effective political participation and the right to effective participation in economic life and which, through the widespread participation of stakeholders, has provided an important platform for promoting dialogue on these topics, and encourages States to take into consideration, as appropriate, relevant recommendations of the Forum;
6
Commends the Forum for its contribution to the efforts of the High Commissioner to improve cooperation among United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes on activities relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, including at the regional level;
7
Welcomes the inter-agency cooperation of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes on minority issues, led by the Office of the High Commissioner, and urges them to increase their cooperation further by, inter alia, developing policies on the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, drawing also on relevant outcomes of the meetings of the Forum;
8
Invitesthe human rights treaty bodies and special procedures of the Council to continue to give attention, within their respective mandates, to the situations and rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and, in this regard, to take into consideration relevant recommendations of the Forum;
9
Decides to extend the mandate of the independent expert on minority issues for a period of three years, and requests the independent expert:
a
To promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, including through consultations with Governments, taking into account existing international standards and national legislation concerning minorities;
b
To identify best practices and possibilities for technical cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, at the request of Governments;
c
To apply a gender perspective in his/her work;
d
To cooperate closely, while avoiding duplication, with existing relevant United Nations bodies, mandates and mechanisms and with regional organizations;
e
To take into account the views of non-governmental organizations on matters pertaining to his/her mandate;
f
To guide the work of the Forum on Minority Issues, as decided by the Council in its resolution 6/15;
g
To submit annual reports on his/her activities to the Council, including recommendations for effective strategies for the better implementation of the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
10
Calls uponall States to cooperate with and assist the independent expert in the performance of the tasks and duties mandated to him/her, to provide him/her with all the necessary information requested and to seriously consider responding promptly and favorably to the request of the independent expert to visit their countries in order to enable him/her to fulfil his/her duties effectively;
11
Encouragesspecialized agencies, regional organizations, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations to develop regular dialogue and cooperation with the mandate holder;
12
Invitesthe Office of the High Commissioner, the independent expert and relevant United Nations agencies, within existing resources, as well as Member States, to explore possibilities for organizing activities to mark the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities;
13
Requeststhe Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to provide all the human, technical and financial assistance necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the independent expert;
14
Decides to continue its consideration of this issue in accordance with its annual programme of work.
The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its sixteenth session (A/HRC/16/2), chap. I.
