United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/60/160
Distr.: General
28 February 2006
Sixtieth session
Agenda item 71 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 December 2005
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II))]
60/160. Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights
of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious
and Linguistic Minorities
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, as well as its subsequent
resolutions on the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or
Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,
Noting that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to
national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contributes to political and
social stability and peace and enriches the cultural diversity and heritage of society, as
reaffirmed in the 2005 World Summit Outcome, 1
Concerned by the frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts concerning
minorities and their often tragic consequences, and concerned also that persons
belonging to minorities are particularly vulnerable to displacement,
Recognizing that the effective promotion and protection of the rights of persons
belonging to minorities is a fundamental part of the promotion and protection of
human rights, and acknowledging that measures in this area can also contribute
significantly to conflict prevention,
Emphasizing the role that national institutions can play in early warning for
problems regarding minority situations,
Emphasizing also the importance of human rights education as an effective tool
to promote an inclusive society and understanding of and tolerance towards and
among persons belonging to minorities,
Acknowledging that the United Nations has an important role to play regarding
the protection of minorities by, inter alia, taking due account of and giving effect to
the Declaration,
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1
05-49720
See resolution 60/1.