A/HRC/37/37/Add.1 Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to selfdetermination On 27 April, the Working Group convened a panel on “Private security companies in places of deprivation of liberty, and their impact on human rights” in Geneva. Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants On 31 March, the Special Rapporteur organized a consultation in Geneva with civil society organizations and United Nations agencies to review the outcome of the highlevel plenary meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants and discuss ways to engage with the two-year process that will result in the adoption of a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration in 2018. The Working Group held an expert consultation on “Private military and security companies in extractive industries – impact on human rights” on 20 July in New York. On 8 and 9 May, the Special Rapporteur was invited to the first thematic informal consultation of the global compact on migration on the theme “Human rights of all migrants, social inclusion, cohesion, and all forms of discrimination, including racism, xenophobia and intolerance” as the thematic expert. On 19 and 20 June, he also participated in the third consultation on the theme “International cooperation and governance of migration in all its dimensions including at borders, on transit, entry, return, readmission, integration and reintegration”. Special Rapporteur on minority issues The Special Rapporteur made a statement at the Regional Global Compact Migration Conference in Chile in August. The 10th session of UN Forum on Minority Issues took place on 30 November and 1 December in Geneva, with a special focus on the role of young people from minorities in promoting inclusive and diverse societies. Now in its 10th year, the Forum, which was this time chaired by Tarik Kurdi, attracted more than 400 participants. Many young men and women from minority communities participated for the first time at a UN event and young delegates represented their governments. A total of 12 young minority activists from over the world introduced each 4 panel discussion respectively on education, participation to public life, digital media and peace and stability. As 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration for the protection of persons belonging to minorities, it was also a key moment to reflect on how the Declaration can also guide governments in their actions. The Forum is guided by Fernand de Varennes, the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues. Independent Expert on the The Independent Expert contributed to the side event on the occasion of the World Elder enjoyment of all human rights Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June, entitled “Violence against older persons, a human by older persons rights issue”, co-organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Group of Friends of the Human Rights of Older Persons, and the Permanent Missions of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, El Salvador, Israel, Montenegro, Namibia, Portugal, Slovenia and Uruguay to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. The United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the Geneva NGO Committee on Ageing and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions also supported this event. In July, the Independent Expert participated in the 8th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on ageing in New York. Special Rapporteur on In June the Special Rapporteur organised a side-event on universal basic income with extreme poverty and human ATD Fourth World. rights In June the Special Rapporteur has also organised a side event on the role of participation by civil society in the promotion of ESCRs with the International Service for Human Rights and the Global Initiative for ESRs. Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy 54 The Special Rapporteur hosted three regional conferences aimed at fostering a common understanding of the right to privacy: the first was held in the US in July 2016; the second in the Middle East and North African region in Tunis on 25-26 May 2017, and the third in Hong Kong, China, on 29-30 September 2017. These events had a strong