Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (UNGA resolution 47/135)

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming that one of the main purposes of the United Nations, as proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, is to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,

Noting the importance of the even more effective implementation of international human rights instruments with regard to the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities,

Welcoming the increased attention given by human rights treaty bodies to the non-discrimination and protection of minorities,

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,

Considering that the United Nations has an increasingly important role to play regarding the protection of minorities,

Bearing in mind the work done so far within the United Nations system, in particular through the relevant mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in promoting and protecting the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities,

Recognizing the important achievements in this regard in regional, subregional and bilateral frameworks, which can provide a useful source of inspiration for future United Nations activities,

Stressing the need to ensure for all, without discrimination of any kind, full enjoyment and exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and emphasizing the importance of the draft Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities in that regard,

Recalling its resolution 46/115 of 17 December 1991 and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/16 of 21 February 1992, by which the Commission approved the text of the draft declaration on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1992/4 of 20 July 1992, in which the Council recommended it to the General Assembly for adoption and further action,

Having considered the note by the Secretary-General,

1.Adopts the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution;

2.Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the distribution of the Declaration as widely as possible and to include the text of the Declaration in the next edition of Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments;

3.Invites United Nations agencies and organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify their efforts with a view to disseminating information on the Declaration and to promoting understanding thereof;

4.Invites the relevant organs and bodies of the United Nations, including treaty bodies, as well as representatives of the Commission on Human Rights and the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, to give due regard to the Declaration within their mandates;

5.Requests the Secretary-General to consider appropriate ways for the effective promotion of the Declaration and to make proposals thereon;

6.Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled “Human rights questions”.

92nd plenary meeting18 December 1992