Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities

Urges States and the international community to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; also urges States to take, as appropriate, all the necessary constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and give effect to the Declaration; appeals to States to make bilateral and multilateral efforts, as appropriate, in order to protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in their countries; calls upon the Secretary-General to make available qualified expertise on minority issues, including the prevention and resolution of disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations involving minorities; requests the High Commissioner to continue her efforts to improve the coordination and cooperation among UN 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; invites the High Commissioner to seek voluntary contributions to facilitate the effective participation, including through training seminars, in the work of the Working Group on Minorities of representatives of non-governmental organizations and persons belonging to minorities.

Adopted without vote, 83rd meeting

3 p.

Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, 17 Dec. 1999.