A/51/536 English Page 33 internationally displaced persons. It aimed at restating obligations within the framework of existing norms as well as identifying areas where existing international law did not respond adequately to the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons. Its conclusions showed that there was still a need to proceed further and to elaborate an appropriate international instrument. 129. With reference to the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, the Representative noted that during flight and temporary relocation, the internally displaced might be restricted in their ability to speak and use their own language and practise their own religion. The Special Representative reported that an internally displaced population might include persons from minority groups who spoke only their own language(s) and could not communicate in or understand the official and majority language(s). The Special Representative noted that there was a particularly strong need to respect the linguistic heritage of such persons, and to ensure that they could continue to use their own language without interference or discrimination and be understood by those providing them protective and relief services. Reference was made to the protection afforded by article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 2 of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. He concluded by stating that protection was inadequate with respect to the specific language-related needs of internationally displaced persons who were in areas where another language was dominant. Given the essential role of religion and belief in defining personal and cultural identity, a future international instrument should take into account the specific religion-related needs of internally displaced persons. Reference was also made to the opportunity of internally displaced persons to participate in government on a local or national basis, with particular reference to articles 2 (2) and (3) of the Declaration, relating to the rights of persons belonging to minorities. In that respect, a future international instrument should stress that internally displaced persons did not lose their right to political participation because they had to leave their home, and the means for their participation, including access to voter registration procedures, must be safeguarded. Human rights and mass exoduses 130. The Secretary-General, in his report on mass exoduses (E/CN.4/1996/42), referred to the problems resulting in mass exoduses and noted in particular that in Vojvodina, considerable pressure was reportedly being exercised by Serb refugees from Krajina on the ethnic minorities (including Hungarians, Croats and others) to leave those areas. Expulsions of Muslims had also occurred in Srebenica, and expulsions of the Serb minority were also reported to have occurred in central and western Bosnia, following the take-over of the region by the forces of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Forced evictions had also taken place in Burundi of members of the Hutu communities from their residences in Bujumbura. In Israel, it was noted that the Jahalin bedouin tribe was facing forced eviction because of the expansion of a nearby Israeli settlement. Further details are contained in document E/CN.4/1996/42. /...