E UNITED NATIONS Economic and Social Council Distr. GENERAL E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2001/2 2 April 2001 Original: ENGLISH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Fifty-third session Working Group on Minorities Seventh session 14-18 May 2001 Final text of the Commentary to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities By Asbjørn Eide Chairperson of the Working Group on Minorities of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights I. INTRODUCTION 1. In 1992, in its resolution 47/135, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The Assembly requested that intensified efforts be made to disseminate information on the Declaration and promote understanding thereof. 2. This commentary has been prepared in the context of the Working Group on Minorities of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. It is intended to serve as a guide to the understanding and application of the Declaration. The first draft, prepared by me as Chairman, was submitted to the Working Group on Minorities for discussion in 19981 and was subsequently circulated to Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and individual experts for comments. A compilation of those comments was GE.01-12398 (E)