UN Forum on Minority Issues
The UN Forum on Minority Issues is an annual two-day event organized and prepared by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues. The UN Forum on Minority Issues was established by the Human Rights Council’s resolution 6/15in 2007. Its objectives include promoting dialogue and cooperation on matters affecting national minorities, contributing to the thematic work of the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, and supporting the implementation of the UN Minority Declarationthrough the identification and analysis of best practices, challenges, opportunities, and initiatives, as well as the development of thematic recommendations. The recommendations made by the UN Forum on Minority Issues are not legally binding. The UN Forum on Minority Issues is not authorized to monitor the implementation of either the Minority Declaration or Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, nor does it issue country-specific reports. Participants in the Forum include states, UN mechanisms, bodies, specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations active in human rights, regional organizations, institutions, national human rights institutions, other relevant national institutions, academics, minority issues experts, and NGOs. The sessions are attended by hundreds of participants. No special ECOSOC consultative status is required for participation, allowing anyone to attend. This makes the UN Forum on Minority Issues an important opportunity for minority representatives to address issues affecting them at a global level and to expand their professional networks. Based on the recommendations proposed by the Forum participants, the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues prepares a report for the UN Human Rights Council. Since 2019, the Forum has been preceded by thematic regional forums aimed at providing more effective responses to minority issues by taking regional specificities and realities into account. The organization of these regional forums is coordinated by the Tom Lantos Institute in collaboration with regional and local organizations.(TB)