A/RES/56/162
1.
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 3
2.
Recognizes that respect for human rights and the promotion of
understanding and tolerance by Governments as well as between and among
minorities are central to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons
belonging to minorities;
3.
Reaffirms the obligation of States to ensure that persons belonging to
minorities may exercise fully and effectively all human rights and fundamental
freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law, in
accordance with the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or
Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, 4 and as emphasized at the World
Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001;
4.
Urges States and the international community to promote and protect the
rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities,
as set out in the Declaration, including through the provision of adequate education
and the facilitation of their participation in all aspects of the political, economic,
social, religious and cultural life of society and in the economic progress and
development of their country, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so;
5.
Calls upon States to give special attention to the promotion and
protection of the human rights of children, girls as well as boys, belonging to
minorities;
6.
Urges States to take, as appropriate, all necessary constitutional,
legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and give effect to the
Declaration, and appeals to States to cooperate bilaterally and multilaterally, in
accordance with the Declaration, in order to promote and protect the rights of
persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities;
7.
Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to protect the cultural
and religious sites of national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities;
8.
Calls upon the Secretary-General to make available, at the request of
Governments concerned, qualified expertise on minority issues, including the
prevention and resolution of disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations
involving minorities;
9.
Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to
promote, within her mandate, the implementation of the Declaration and to continue
to engage in a dialogue with Governments for that purpose, and in this regard draws
attention to the work on the United Nations Guide for Minorities;
10. Requests the High Commissioner to continue her efforts to improve the
coordination and cooperation among United Nations programmes and agencies on
activities related to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging
to minorities and to take the work of relevant regional organizations active in the
field of human rights into account in her endeavours;
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3
4
2
A/56/258.
Resolution 47/135, annex.