Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities

1993/24. Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities

The Commission on Human Rights, Welcoming General Assembly resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, by which the Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the text of which is annexed to that resolution, Acknowledging that the United Nations has an increasingly important role to play regarding the protection of minorities by, inter alia, taking due account of the Declaration, Aware of the provisions of article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the rights of persons belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, Welcoming the increased attention given by human rights treaty bodies to the non-discrimination and protection of minorities, Affirming that effective measures and the creation of favourable the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, ensuring effective non-discrimination and equality for all, contribute to the prevention and peaceful solution of human rights problems and situations involving minorities, Noting the growing frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts concerning minorities in many countries, and their often tragic consequences, Noting the importance of an even more effective implementation of international human rights instruments with regard to the rights of all persons, including those belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, Considering that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural heritage of society as a whole, Wishing to strengthen respect for the principles of the Declaration with a view to preventing disputes involving minorities, Noting with appreciation the work of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on ways and means of facilitating the peaceful and constructive solution and management of problems involving minorities by, inter alia, early warning and early action, communication and dialogue among the parties concerned, and looking forward to the final report of the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission, Mr. Asbjørn Eide, Believing that, as one means of promoting the Declaration, community mediation and other forms of voluntary dispute avoidance or resolution can contribute to the prevention or management of conflicts concerning minorities, Believing also that the programme of advisory services and technical assistance of the Centre for Human Rights can play a useful role in providing expertise, advice and services related to minorities,

1. Calls upon all States to promote and give effect as appropriate to the principles contained in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities adopted by the General Assembly;

2. Urges all treaty bodies and special representatives, special rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission on Human Rights and the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to give due regard to the Declaration, as appropriate, within their mandates;

3. Invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities;

4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to make available, at the request of Governments, as part of the programme of advisory services and technical assistance of the Centre for Human Rights, qualified experts familiar with minority issues, as well as with the prevention, resolution and/or management of disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations involving minorities;

5. Encourages Governments to consider availing themselves of such advisory services and technical assistance;

6. Requests the Secretary-General, in the implementation of the present resolution, to provide additional human and financial resources for such advisory services and technical assistance of the Centre for Human Rights, within the existing overall resources of the United Nations;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution under the same agenda item to the Commission at its fiftieth session.

57th meeting
5 March 1993
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XX.]
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