A/HRC/16/45
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
16 December 2010
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Sixteenth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the independent expert on minority issues, Gay
McDougall
Summary
The present report provides a summary of activities undertaken by the independent
expert on minority issues. Since her previous report, the independent expert has undertaken
two official country missions, to Colombia and to Viet Nam, to consult on minority issues.
The independent expert has continued her work to promote implementation of the
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and
Linguistic Minorities. She has conducted extensive consultations with regard to all
elements of her mandate. She has 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. She has guided and
prepared the annual sessions of the Forum on Minority Issues, which in 2010 considered
“Minorities and effective participation in economic life”. The independent expert reported
to the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly.
In the present report, the independent expert focuses on the role of the protection of
minority rights in conflict prevention. She emphasizes that, among the essential elements of
a strategy to prevent conflicts involving minorities are respect for minority rights,
particularly with regard to equality in access to economic and social opportunities; effective
participation of minorities in decision-making; dialogue between minorities and majorities
within societies; and the constructive development of practices and institutional
arrangements to accommodate diversity within society. Attention to minority rights at an
early stage — before grievances lead to tensions and violence — would make an invaluable
contribution to the culture of prevention within the United Nations, save countless lives and
promote stability and development. Among a series of recommendations is that expertise in
minority rights should be strengthened and integrated comprehensively across the United
Nations system.
GE.10-17814