Plan International - Girls' Rights Platform - Girls' rights are human rights: Positioning girls at the heart of the international agenda

United Nations General Assembly A/RES/56/162 Distr.: General 20 February 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 119 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/583/Add.2)] 56/162. 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, Considering that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society as a whole in the States in which such persons live, Concerned by the frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts concerning minorities in many countries and their often tragic consequences, and concerned also that persons belonging to minorities are particularly vulnerable to displacement through, inter alia, population transfers, refugee flows and forced relocation, 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 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, Noting that the Working Group on Minorities of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held its sixth and seventh sessions from 22 to 26 May 2000 1 and 14 to 18 May 2001,2 respectively, _______________ 1 2 01 48786 E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/27 and Corr.1. E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/22.