A/HRC/43/47
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
9 January 2020
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-third session
24 February–20 March 2020
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Education, language and the human rights of minorities
Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues*
Summary
In his report, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes,
provides a clear working definition of the concept of a minority in order to guide his
activities and those of the United Nations. He describes a series of initiatives, including
three regional forums that complement the Forum on Minority Issues. In the thematic
section of his report, he sets out the often misunderstood language dimension of education
for minorities, which emanates from the proper understanding and implementation of
international human rights obligations. He describes the parameters of the application of
human rights, and in particular the principles of equality without discrimination, as of
primary importance for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality
education for all, including linguistic minorities such as users of sign languages.
* The annex to the present report is being issued without editing, in the language of submission only.
GE.20-00287(E)