A/HRC/RES/37/14
Welcoming the adoption of initiatives by the United Nations system, including the
proclamation of the year beginning 1 January 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous
Languages and International Mother Language Day to draw attention to the critical loss of
languages, and recognizing the urgent need to promote the preservation and protection of
all languages, including as an educational medium, and to take further urgent steps to that
end at the national and international levels,
Taking note of the publication of the handbook entitled “Language Rights of
Linguistic Minorities: A Practical Guide for Implementation”,
Emphasizing the need to strengthen 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 their economic and social conditions and marginalization, and to
end any type of discrimination against them,
Emphasizing also 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 on the
enjoyment of their rights,
Recognizing that young women and girls belonging to national or ethnic, religious
and linguistic minorities may often face particular challenges, and underlining in this
context the importance of taking a gender-sensitive approach when considering measures to
promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities,
Emphasizing the fundamental importance of human rights education, training and
learning, dialogue, including intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and interaction among all
relevant stakeholders and members of society relating to 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 through the sharing of
best practices relating to, inter alia, the promotion of mutual understanding of minority
issues, the management of diversity through the recognition of plural identities and the
promotion of inclusive and stable societies and of social cohesion therein,
1.
Takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues
submitted to the Human Rights Council at its current session,1 his report on the
recommendations of the Forum on Minority Issues at its tenth session 2 and the report to the
General Assembly at its seventy-second session;3
2.
Notes the completion, in December 2017, of the tenth session of the Forum
on Minority Issues, addressing the rights of minority youth, which, through the widespread
participation of stakeholders, provided an important platform for promoting dialogue on
this topic, and encourages States to take into consideration the relevant recommendations of
the Forum;
3.
Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities;4
4.
Commends the Special Rapporteur on minority issues for his work and for the
important role that he has played in raising the level of awareness of and in giving added
visibility to the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic
minorities, and for his guiding role in the preparation and work of the Forum on Minority
Issues, which contributes to efforts to improve cooperation among all United Nations
mechanisms relating to the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
1
A/HRC/37/66.
A/HRC/37/73.
3 A/72/165.
4 A/HRC/25/30.
2
2