A/HRC/16/45
Part One
Report on the activities of the independent expert
I.
Introduction
1.
The independent expert is pleased to submit to the Human Rights Council her
annual report pursuant to Council resolution 7/6 of 27 March 2008, her sixth such report
since taking up the mandate. In the report, the independent expert provides an overview of
her activities undertaken since her previous report. In addition she includes a thematic
discussion on the role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict
prevention.
2.
The independent expert has continued her work to promote the implementation of
the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and
Linguistic Minorities (1992 Declaration on Minorities). She has conducted extensive
consultations with regard to all elements of her mandate, attended expert seminars and
conferences, convened consultations, engaged with States, specialized agencies, bodies and
mechanisms of the United Nations system and regional intergovernmental organizations.
She has consulted widely with civil society and directly with minority communities. The
independent expert applies a gender perspective in all aspects of her work.
II.
Activities of the independent expert
A.
Country visits
3.
The independent expert visited Colombia from 1 to 12 February 2010. The focus of
her visit was the situation of minority communities identified as Afro-Colombian, Black,
Raizal and Palenquero. The visit provided a unique opportunity to consult on the country’s
extensive legislation, policy and practice relating to persons belonging to these
communities and with regard to the country’s implementation of the 1992 Declaration on
Minorities. Issues addressed during the visit included displacement and dispossession of
lands, poverty and violence against communities, in both rural and urban environments.
The mission report is available as document A/HRC/16/45/Add.1.
4.
The independent expert visited Viet Nam from 5 to 15 July 2010. She travelled to
remote villages as well as to the urban centres of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The
Government of Viet Nam has implemented initiatives to address the disproportionate
poverty experienced by ethnic minority communities, which became the central focus of the
visit of the independent expert. She also considered the rights of religious minorities and
the extent to which minority children are afforded adequate opportunities to be taught in
their own ethnic languages in the earliest years of education. The mission report is available
as document A/HRC/16/45/Add.2.
5.
The independent expert thanks the Governments of Colombia and Viet Nam for
their cooperation during the preparation and conduct of her visits and looks forward to
continuing constructive dialogue with regard to her analysis and recommendations. The
independent expert looks forward to a positive reply from the following States which she
has requested to visit: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic
Republic of), Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Sri Lanka, Suriname,
Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand and Turkey.
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