A/RES/48/138 Page 3 Mindful of the recommendations contained in section II, paragraphs 25 to 27, of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, 5/ adopted unanimously by the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; 4/ 2. Urges States and the international community to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as set out in the Declaration, including through the facilitation of their full 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; 3. Calls upon the Commission on Human Rights to examine ways and means to promote and protect effectively the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as set out in the Declaration; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to provide through the Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat, at the request of Governments concerned and as part of the programme of advisory services and technical assistance of the Centre, qualified expertise on minority issues and human rights, as well as on the prevention and resolution of disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations involving minorities; 5. Appeals to States to take all the necessary legislative and other measures to promote and give effect, as appropriate, to the principles of the Declaration; 6. Also appeals to States to make bilateral and multilateral efforts, as appropriate, to protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in their countries, in accordance with the Declaration; 7. Urges all treaty bodies and special representatives, special rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission on Human Rights and the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to give due regard to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as set forth in the Declaration, as appropriate, within their mandates; 8. Encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; __________ 5/ A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. /...