A/RES/48/138 Page 2 Noting that resolutions 1993/42 and 1993/43 adopted by the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on 26 August 1993 2/ are to be considered by the Commission on Human Rights at its fiftieth session, Aware of the provisions of article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 3/ concerning the rights of persons belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, Acknowledging that the United Nations has an increasingly important role to play regarding the protection of minorities by, inter alia, taking due account of the Declaration, Concerned by the growing frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts concerning minorities in many countries, and their often tragic consequences, Affirming that effective measures and the creation of favourable conditions for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, ensuring effective non-discrimination and equality for all, contribute to the prevention and peaceful solution of human rights problems and situations involving minorities, Considering that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace, and enrich the cultural heritage of society as a whole of the States in which such persons live, Reaffirming the obligation of States to ensure that persons belonging to minorities may exercise fully and effectively all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law in accordance with the Declaration, Welcoming initiatives aiming at disseminating information on the Declaration and at promoting understanding thereof, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the effective promotion of the Declaration, 4/ __________ 2/ See E/CN.4/1994/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1993/58, chap. II, sect. A. 3/ See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 4/ A/48/509 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. /...