Article 27: The rights of minorities 1994, para. 6.2.

Paragraph
Paragraph text
Although the rights protected under article 27 are individual rights, they depend in turn on the ability of the minority group to maintain its culture, language or religion. Accordingly, positive measures by States may also be necessary to protect the identity of a minority and the rights of its members to enjoy and develop their culture and language and to practice their religion, in community with the other members of the group. In this connection, it has to be observed that such positive measures must respect the provisions of articles 2(1) and 26 of the Covenant both as regards the treatment between different minorities and the treatment between the persons belonging to them and the remaining part of the population. However, as long as those measures are aimed at correcting conditions which prevent or impair the enjoyment of the rights guaranteed under article 27, they may constitute a legitimate differentiation under the Covenant, provided that they are based on reasonable and objective criteria.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Human Rights Committee
Document type
General Comment / Recommendation
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
  • Civil & Political Rights
  • Equality & Inclusion
  • Governance & Rule of Law
  • Social & Cultural Rights
Person(s) affected
  • Ethnic minorities
Year
1994
Paragraph type
Other
Reference
CCPR General Comment No. 23, Article 27: The rights of minorities (1994), para. 6.2..
Paragraph number
6.2.