UN Forum on Minority Issues

Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007, a forum on minority issues has been established. The forum is to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, which shall provide thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the independent expert on minority issues. The Forum shall identify and analyze best practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives for the further implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities.

 

The inaugural session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues took place on 15 and 16 December 2008 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The thematic focus of this first session of the Forum was “Minorities and the Right to Education”.

 

The second session of the Forum on Minority Issues will take place on 12 and 13 November 2009 at the United Nations, Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

The thematic focus of the second session of the Forum will be: "Minorities and Effective Political Participation".

Discussions are expected to be based on three core elements:

• Identification of challenges and problems facing minorities and States;

• Identification of good practices in relation to minorities and political participation;

• Consideration of opportunities, initiatives and solutions.

In this framework, participants will be expected to exchange views on ways to increase the participation of minorities in decision-making processes. The Forum should help identify the obstacles to minorities political participation, the impact of electoral systems or the possible institutions likely to address these obstacles. Other issues such as the role of minority groups, veto rights on policies affecting minorities, quotas ensuring their representation or self-governance should also receive specific attention.