This Guide outlines the procedures currently available for the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities within the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations. The Guide was prepared as a tool for training courses on minority rights. It has been piloted on two courses in Geneva and Budapest organized for representatives from minority communities and those working with minorities. One of the authors participated in both courses. The Guide will be used on future training courses for minorities and for government officials by Minority Rights Group International and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. In addition to its role as course material, the guide also provides a work of reference which will be of interest to all those concerned about minority rights.

This Guide outlines the procedures currently available for the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities within the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations. The Guide was prepared as a tool for training courses on minority rights. It has been piloted on two courses in Geneva and Budapest organized for representatives from minority communities and those working with minorities. One of the authors participated in both courses. The Guide will be used on future training courses for minorities and for government officials by Minority Rights Group International and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. In addition to its role as course material, the guide also provides a work of reference which will be of interest to all those concerned about minority rights.

"The present guide offers information related to norms and mechanisms developed to protect the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities. It includes detailed information about procedures and forums in which minority issues may be raised to minorities and by also covering selected specialized agencies and regional mechanisms, the present Guide complements information contained in Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme: A Handbook for Civil Society"--Introduction.

This guide explains how the United Nations (UN) works. It aims to demystify the UN’s human rights mechanisms, procedures and institutions. It shows how minorities and minority-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can use the UN and its different bodies to promote respect for minority rights. It offers practice advice, case studies and step-by-step guidance to working with the UN; showing, for example, how NGOs can provide information to the UN, how they can pursue cases and lobby for their issues, and where the best entry points are within the UN’s institutions and monitoring mechanisms. While this guide is aimed at minority-based NGOs, and NGOs working to promote human rights, it will be of interest to anyone wishing to learn more about the UN.

Minorities make significant contributions to the richness and diversity of society, and States that recognize and promote minority rights are more likely to remain tolerant and stable. The United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations recognize that minority rights are essential to protect those who wish to preserve and develop values and practices which they share with other members of their community. This Guide offers information related to norms and mechanisms developed to protect the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities. It provides detailed information about procedures and forums in which minority issues may be raised within the United Nations system and in regional systems. It is hoped that this Guide will be useful in assisting minority advocates to make full and effective use of existing international mechanisms and, ultimately, to promote and protect the rights guaranteed under international instruments.

"The present guide offers information related to norms and mechanisms developed to protect the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities. It includes detailed information about procedures and forums in which minority issues may be raised to minorities and by also covering selected specialized agencies and regional mechanisms, the present Guide complements information contained in Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme: A Handbook for Civil Society"--Introduction.

"This publication contains the 'Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework', which were developed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. The Special Representative annexed the Guiding Principles to his final report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/17/31), which also includes an introduction to the Guiding Principles and an overview of the process that led to their development. The Human Rights Council endorsed the Guiding Principles in its resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011."--P. iv.