A/RES/63/174 United Nations Distr.: General 20 March 2009 General Assembly Sixty-third session Agenda item 64 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2008 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/63/430/Add.2)] 63/174. Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, by which it adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities annexed to that resolution, and bearing in mind article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1 as well as other relevant existing international standards and national legislation, 0F Recalling also its subsequent resolutions on the effective promotion of the Declaration, as well as Human Rights Council resolutions 6/15 of 28 September 2007, by which the Council established the Forum on Minority Issues, 2 and 7/6 of 27 March 2008 on the mandate of the independent expert on minority issues, 3 1F 2F Noting that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contributes to political and social stability and peace and enriches the cultural diversity and heritage of society, as reaffirmed in the 2005 World Summit Outcome, 4 3F 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, as well as full and effective participation in matters affecting them, contribute to the prevention and peaceful solution of human rights problems and situations involving them, Expressing concern at the frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts involving persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in many countries and their often tragic consequences, and that they often suffer _______________ 1 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53), chap. I, sect. A. 3 Ibid., chap. II. 4 See resolution 60/1. 2 08-48123