A/68/268
I. Introduction
1.
The mandate of the Independent Expert was created by the Commission on
Human Rights in its resolution 2005/79 and renewed by the Human Rights Council
in its resolutions 7/6 and 16/6. Rita Izsák was appointed Independent Expert on
minority issues by the Human Rights Council and assumed her functions on
1 August 2011.
2.
The Human Rights Council has requested the Independent Expert, inter alia, to
promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging
to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (hereinafter “the
Declaration”), 1 including through consultations with Governments and taking into
account existing international standards and national legislation concerning
minorities. The Independent Expert wishes to thank the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Nazila Ghanea for their
assistance in the preparation of the present report.
3.
In section II, the Independent Expert provides a brief overview of her activities
since the submission of her previous report to the General Assembly (A/67/293).
Section III focuses on the need for minority rights-based approaches to the
protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities, and Section IV
provides conclusions and recommendations in this regard.
II. Activities of the Independent Expert
4.
The Independent Expert has undertaken numerous activities to fulfil her mandate
during the reporting period, including consultations with States, non-governmental
organizations and minority communities from all regions. A detailed consideration of
her activities will be provided in her next report to the Human Rights Council.
A.
Country visits
5.
The Independent Expert visited Bosnia and Herzegovina (17-25 September
2012). Her visit report (A/HRC/22/49/Add.1) was presented to the Human Rights
Council in March 2013 at its twenty-second session. She thanks the Government
and the many officials whom she met, as well as representatives of international and
national organizations and civil society, for the excellent cooperation they extended
to her. She hopes that her recommendations will be implemented and contribute
towards the protection of minority rights and efforts to achieve social cohesion
across diverse communities.
The Independent Expert thanks the Government of Cameroon for extending an
6.
invitation for her to visit from 2 to 11 September 2013. She also thanks the Government
of Nigeria for agreeing, in principle, for a country visit in 2013. Additional country
visits are currently being scheduled, and updated information is available on the
website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/CountryandothervisitsSP.aspx).
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1
13-41869
General Assembly resolution 47/135, annex.
3/23