A/RES/59/309
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
6 July 2005
Fifty-ninth session
Agenda item 156
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 22 June 2005
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/59/L.62 and Add.1)]
59/309. Multilingualism
The General Assembly,
Recognizing that the United Nations pursues multilingualism as a means of
promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of languages and cultures globally,
Also recognizing that genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and
international understanding,
Recalling its resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, by which it adopted the
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and
Linguistic Minorities, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1
in particular its article 27 concerning the rights of persons belonging to ethnic,
religious or linguistic minorities,
Also recalling its resolutions 2 (I) of 1 February 1946, 2480 B (XXIII) of
21 December 1968, 42/207 C of 11 December 1987, 50/11 of 2 November 1995,
52/23 of 25 November 1997, 54/64 of 6 December 1999, 56/262 of 15 February
2002, 59/126 B of 10 December 2004 and 59/265 and 59/266 of 23 December 2004,
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General 2 and the report of the
1.
Joint Inspection Unit; 3
Also takes note of the appointment of a new coordinator for
2.
multilingualism;
3.
Underlines the need for full implementation of the resolutions
establishing language arrangements for the official languages of the United Nations
and the working languages of the Secretariat;
Emphasizes the paramount importance of the equality of the six official
4.
languages of the United Nations;
5.
Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure, through the
provision of documentation services and meeting and publishing services under
conference management, including high-quality translation and interpretation,
_______________
1
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
A/58/363.
3
See A/58/93.
2
04-49567