A/HRC/52/27*
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
26 January 2023
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Fifty-second session
27 February–31 March 2023
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Strengthening and mainstreaming the protection of the rights
of minorities at the United Nations: an assessment of the
implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons
Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic
Minorities**
Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de
Varennes
Summary
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes,
provides an overview of his activities since his previous report (A/HRC/49/46) and the
activities marking the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights
of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. It also
contains a thematic report on moving forward in recognizing and protecting the rights of
minorities at the United Nations, in which the Special Rapporteur critically reviews and
assesses the implementation of the Declaration since its adoption. Echoing the observations
of the Secretary-General, António Guterres – “that – thirty years on – the world is falling
short. Far short. We are not dealing with gaps – we are dealing with outright inaction and
negligence in the protection of minority rights” – the Special Rapporteur points to little or no
significant development institutionally at the United Nations to advance the protection of
minorities when compared with other marginalized groups. He describes the widespread
views expressed by most minority rights activists and representatives of the urgent need to
mainstream the protection of the rights of minorities at the United Nations and further
develop mechanisms to better ensure the protection of minority rights as has increasingly
been the case for other marginalized groups. Among the recommendations that were widely
supported during the Special Rapporteur’s regional forums, and at the Forum on Minority
Issues, are proposals for States to begin work on a legally binding instrument, the
consolidation of regional forums on minorities at the United Nations and, among others, the
creation of a permanent forum and voluntary fund for minorities at the United Nations.
* Reissued for technical reasons on 6 March 2023.
** Agreement was reached to publish the present report after the standard publication date owing to
circumstances beyond the submitter’s control.
GE.23-00681(E)