Rights of persons belonging to national or
ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities

Sub-Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/42

The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,

Welcoming General Assembly resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, in which the Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,

Aware of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/24 of 5 March 1993 on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities,

Aware also of article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the rights of persons belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities,

Recognizing that the role of the United Nations in the protection of national or ethnic minorities should increase,

Concerned about the situation of national minorities in the areas of armed conflict in former Yugoslavia, the former Soviet Union, and in other regions and countries,

Desirous of increasing the effectiveness of the implementation of the Declaration of the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,

1. Appeals to all States to take all the necessary municipal legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and give effect to the principles of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, paying special attention to the protection of the rights of national or ethnic minorities in areas of armed conflict;

2. Strongly appeals to all States to conclude bilateral or, where possible, multilateral agreements in order to ensure the rights of national or ethnic minorities in their countries, and to observe them in accordance with the standards of international humanitarian law in cases of armed conflict which directly affect their interests;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to make available the resources needed to provide monitoring, advisory assistance and financing to States in connection with their activities related to the protection of the rights of minorities.

34th meeting
26 August 1993
[Adopted without a vote.]