Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging
to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities
A/RES/70/166
Welcoming the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 8 of
which the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on
Financing for Development 9 is an integral part, recalling that the Sustainable
Development Goals and targets seek to realize the human rights of all, and stressing
the need for Member States to integrate the 2030 Agenda into their respective national
policies and development frameworks, as appropriate, to promote the effective
implementation, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda, in order to ensure that no
one is left behind,
Expressing concern at the frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts
involving persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minori ties in
many countries and their often tragic consequences, and that such persons often suffer
disproportionately from the effects of conflicts resulting in the violation of their
human rights and are particularly vulnerable to displacement through, inter alia,
population transfers, revocation of previously held identity documents, refugee flows
and forced relocation,
Emphasizing the important role that national institutions can play in the
promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic,
religious and linguistic minorities as well as in early warning and awareness -raising
measures to address problems regarding minority situations,
Emphasizing also the need for reinforced efforts to meet the goal of the full
realization of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities, including by addressing economic and social conditions and
marginalization, as well as to end any type of discrimination against them,
Emphasizing further the importance of recognizing and addressing multiple,
aggravated and intersecting forms of discrimination against persons belonging to
national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and the compounded negative
impact upon the enjoyment of their rights,
Emphasizing the fundamental importance of human rights education, training
and learning as well as of dialogue, including intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and
interaction among all relevant stakeholders and members of society on the promotion
and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities as an integral part of the development of society as a whole,
including the sharing of best practices such as for the promotion of mutual
understanding of minority issues, managing diversity by recognizing plural identities
and promoting inclusive and stable societies as well as social cohesion therein,
Acknowledging that the United Nations has an important role to play regarding
the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities by, inter alia, taking due account of, and giving effect to, the
Declaration,
Welcoming the publication of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights entitled Promoting and Protecting Minority Rights:
A Guide for Advocates, which provides information on main actors working on the
rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in
the United Nations and in key regional organizations and which constitutes a valuable
tool for advocates working on this issue worldwide,
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9
2/7
Resolution 70/1.
Resolution 69/313, annex.