European Regional Forum: Working toward conflict prevention through protection of minority rights

The European Regional Forum on conflict prevention and the protection of the human rights of minorities, convened by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues Fernand de Varennes, will take place on 12 and 13 October.

The Regional Forum will bring together some 200 representatives from States, UN and regional organisations, civil society groups as well as minorities. The event is co-hosted by the Governments of the Republic of Austria, Principality of Liechtenstein, Republic of Slovenia and Switzerland.

The Regional Forum for Europe and Central Asia is the last of four regional fora convened in 2021 on preventing conflicts through justice and human rights for minorities. Discussions will inform the work and recommendations of the 14th session of the global UN Forum on Minority Issues taking place in Geneva in December 2021 also on the theme of "Conflict Prevention and the Protection of the Human Rights of Minorities".

The European Regional Forum will take place online this year because of the pandemic and is open to the media. The event will be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nFioBnLPu3b2ZufJGtD1w

Learn more about the speakers and the schedule of the European Regional Forum on Minority Issues.

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French, Russian and Romani.

ENDS

BACKGROUND:

Pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007 renewed by resolution 19/23 of 23 March 2012, a forum on minority issues has been established to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as well as thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the Special Rapporteur 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 Forum meets annually for two working days allocated to thematic discussions. The Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Mr Fernand de Varennes, is tasked to guide the work of the Forum, prepare its annual meetings and report on the thematic recommendations of the Forum to the Human Rights Council.

For inquiries and media requests , please contact: Jose Parra ( +41 22 917 9613/ jose.parra@un.org) or Hee-Kyong Yoo (+41- 22 917 9723/ hyoo@ohchr.org)