The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 5
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2012 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. In March 2012, the Secretary-General's Policy Committee stressed that the twentieth anniversary should be used to raise awareness and promote implementation of the Declaration and endorsed the establishment of the United Nations Network on Racial Discrimination and Minorities to give strengthened attention to minority issues within the United Nations system. In many countries, examples of constructive approaches, national legislation and institutional attention exist for the implementation of minority rights, equality and the accommodation of diverse groups within society which could be replicated. However, in all regions significant challenges remain for minority communities.