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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is mandated to promote and protect the human rights of all persons. In an effort to mainstream minority rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) promotes and implements the principles contained in the UN Declaration on Minorities; cooperates with other organs and bodies of the UN, including the international human rights community, and programmes of technical assistance and advisory services; and engages in dialogue with governments and other parties concerned with minority issues. This includes efforts to close the implementation gap in the protection of the rights of minorities and the follow-up of minority-related resolutions of legislative bodies and the recommendations of the treaty bodies, the former Working Group on Minorities, and the Special Procedures, including the Independent Expert on minority issues. The OHCHR also promotes the normative framework for indigenous and minority rights; works towards increased awareness, knowledge and understanding of minority rights in the international community; through support to the treaty bodies, ensures compliance with human rights standards relevant to the protection of minorities; contributes to coverage of minority issues in the growing field presences; and works closely with inter-agency networks to deepen integration of minority issues into operational programmes. Finally, OHCHR strives for an increased empowerment of minorities through training and advancing the knowledge and use of human rights mechanisms. See section 6.3 for examples of opportunities for cooperation with OHCHR on minority issues.
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