The Asia-Pacific 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 in Geneva on September 7 and 8.
The regional forum will bring together around 200 representatives from states, the UN and regional organisations, civil society groups, and minorities.
The Asia-Pacific Regional Forum is the third of four regional fora convened in 2021 on preventing conflicts through justice and human rights for minorities.
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Discussions will inform the work and recommendations of the 14th session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues taking place in Geneva in December this year also on the theme of "Conflict Prevention and the Protection of the Human Rights of Minorities."
The forum, which meets annually for two working days allocated to thematic discussions, will take place online this year because of the pandemic, said a media release issued from Geneva.
Fernand, the special rapporteur on minority issues, is tasked to guide the work of the forum, prepare its annual meetings and report on the thematic recommendations to the Human Rights Council.