A/70/212
I. Introduction
1.
The present report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues is submitted to
the General Assembly at its seventieth session in accordance with Assembly
resolution 68/172 and Human Rights Council resolution 25/5.
2.
Section II of this report provides a brief overview of the activities of the
Special Rapporteur since the issuance of her previous report to the General Assembly
(A/69/266) and section III focuses on minorities in the criminal justice system. The
final section presents conclusions and offers recommendations in this regard.
II. Activities of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues
A.
Country visits
3.
A summary of the recent activities of the Special Rapporteur — including her
country missions, to Nigeria, conducted from 17 to 28 February 2014 (see
A/HRC/28/64/Add.2), and Ukraine, from 7 to 14 April 2014 (see A/HRC/28/64/
Add.1) — can be found in her annual report to the Human Rights Council
(A/HRC/28/64).
B.
Global study on Roma
4.
The Special Rapporteur carried out a comprehensive study of the human rights
situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of
anti-Gypsyism, at the invitation of the Human Rights Council (see resolution 26/4).
Adopting a consultative approach, she liaised with international and regional
organizations, Roma rights experts and non-governmental organizations. Her report
on the results of the global study (A/HRC/29/24) was presented to the Human
Rights Council at its twenty-ninth session, held in June 2015.
C.
Forum on Minority Issues
5.
The Special Rapporteur has been requested by the Human Rights Council in its
resolutions 6/15 and 19/23 to guide the work of the Forum on Minority Issues. The
seventh session of the Forum, which was held on 25 and 26 November 2014 ,
focused on protecting minorities from violence and atrocity crimes, and identifying
challenges involving minorities, as well as solutions and effective practices for
preventing and addressing violence. 1 The approximately 600 participants included
representatives of Governments, minority communities, specialized agencies,
regional organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society.
6.
The eighth session of the Forum, on the theme of minorities in the criminal
justice system, which is to be held on 24 and 25 November 2015, 2 will prioritize
identifying positive and effective practices for protecting and promoting minority
__________________
1
2
15-12578
The recommendations of the Forum at its seventh session are contained in document
A/HRC/28/77.
See http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Minority/Pages/Session8.aspx .
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