A/RES/60/160 Noting that the Working Group on Minorities of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held its tenth and eleventh sessions from 1 to 5 March 2004 and from 30 May to 3 June 2005, respectively, Noting with appreciation the appointment of the independent expert on minority issues by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 29 July 2005, as requested by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/79 of 21 April 2005, 2 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; Reaffirms the obligation of States to ensure that persons belonging to 3. minorities may exercise fully and effectively all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law, as proclaimed in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, 4 and draws attention to the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, 5 including the provisions on forms of multiple discrimination; 4. Encourages States, in their follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to include aspects relating to minorities in their national plans of action and, in this context, to take forms of multiple discrimination fully into account; Urges States and the international community to promote and protect the 5. rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as set out in the Declaration, including through the encouragement of conditions for the promotion of their identity, 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, without discrimination, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so; Calls upon States to give special attention to the promotion and protection 6. of the human rights of children belonging to minorities, taking into account that girls and boys may face different types of risks; Urges States to take, as appropriate, all necessary constitutional, 7. 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; Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to protect the cultural 8. and religious sites of national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; _______________ 2 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 3 A/60/333. 4 Resolution 47/135, annex. 5 See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 2