A/HRC/25/56
I. Introduction
1.
The mandate of the Independent Expert on minority issues was established by the
Commission on Human Rights in 2005 (resolution 2005/79), and extended by Human
Rights Council (resolution 7/6). On 24 March 2011, the Council decided to renew the
mandate of the Independent Expert for an additional three years (resolution 16/6) and
Rita Izsák was appointed mandate holder and assumed her functions on 1 August 2011. The
Independent Expert is required, inter alia, to promote implementation of the Declaration on
the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,
including through consultation with Governments.
2.
In chapter II of this report, the Independent Expert provides a brief overview of her
activities since the submission of her previous report (A/HRC/22/49). In chapters III and IV
she focuses on ensuring the inclusion of minority issues in post-2015 development agendas
and chapter V provides a series of conclusions and recommendations.
II. Activities of the Independent Expert
A.
1.
Thematic activities and reports
Religious minorities
Participation in conferences and consultations
3.
In her workplan presented in 2012 to the Council, the Independent Expert committed
herself to pay particular attention to the rights of religious minorities in 2013 and beyond,
recognizing the general lack of dedicated attention given to their minority rights beyond
guaranteeing their freedom or religion or belief. The Independent Expert also recognized
that this is a subject of considerable global interest and therefore decided to dedicate the
sixth Forum on Minority Issues to the rights of religious minorities.
4.
She sent a questionnaire to all Member States on 25 April 2013 on measures to
ensure the rights and security of religious minorities. The questionnaire focused on the
identification of positive practices for the protection and promotion of the rights of religious
minorities, including initiatives in the area of interfaith dialogue and the promotion of
harmonious relations between different faith groups. She thanks responding States
including: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Cuba,
Denmark, Estonia, Guatemala, Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Jordan, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Oman, Pakistan,
Paraguay, Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland,
Thailand, Ukraine, and the United States of America.
5.
On 6 June 2013, the Independent Expert convened an Expert Group Meeting
“Beyond Belief: The rights and security of religious minorities” in Geneva. It was attended
by national and international experts in the field of religious minority rights from different
regions, including Heiner Bielefeldt, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
(via video-conference). The objective was to inform her report to be submitted to the
General Assembly’s sixty-eighth session. Expert speakers presented on issues that included:
key concepts and standards; identification of challenges and violations, including nondiscrimination, recognition and security; positive practices; the security of religious
minorities in conflict and post-conflict situations; and strengthening responses to rights
violations against religious minorities.
3