A/HRC/19/2 1. Takes note of the report of the Independent Expert on minority issues,35 which contains, inter alia, an update on the work of the Forum on Minority Issues; 2. Also takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities;36 3. Further takes note of the completion of the first four sessions of the Forum on Minority Issues, addressing the right to education, the right to effective political participation, the right to effective participation in economic life and the rights of minority women and girls and which, through the widespread participation of stakeholders, has provided an important platform for promoting dialogue on these topics, and encourages States to take into consideration, as appropriate, relevant recommendations of the Forum; 4. Commends the Forum for its contribution to the efforts of the High Commissioner to improve cooperation among United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes on activities relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, including at the regional level, and expresses its expectation that the Forum will continue to contribute to those efforts; 5. Reaffirms the role of the Forum as an important platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, which provides thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the Independent Expert and identifies 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; 6. Decides that the Forum shall remain open to the participation of States, United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes, intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations and mechanisms in the field of human rights, national human rights institutions and other relevant national bodies, academics and experts on minority issues and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council; the Forum shall also remain open to other non-governmental organizations whose aims and purposes are in conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, based on arrangements, including Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996, and practices observed by the Commission on Human Rights, through an open and transparent accreditation procedure in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Human Rights Council, which will provide for the timely information on participation and consultations with States concerned; 7. Invites States, United Nations mechanisms, bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions, as well as academics and experts on minority issues, to continue to participate actively in the sessions of the Forum; 8. Decides that the Forum shall continue to meet annually for two working days allocated to thematic discussions; 9. Requests the President of the Human Rights Council to continue to appoint for each session, on the basis of regional rotation, and in consultation with regional groups, a chairperson of the Forum among experts on minority issues, nominated by members and observers of the Council; the chairperson, serving in his/her personal capacity, shall be 35 36 GE.13-14768 A/HRC/19/56. A/HRC/19/27. 69