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Concerned about the difficult conditions faced by persons belonging to minorities who are
subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex,
gender, language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or
social origin, property, birth, age or other status,
Recognizing that minority women and girls are often at greater risk, both within and outside
the home, of violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or
exploitation, and emphasizing the need to incorporate a gender perspective in all efforts to
promote the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons belonging
to national or ethnic, religious or belief, and linguistic minorities;
Recognizing that minority children shall have full enjoyment of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children, and recalling obligations to that
end undertaken by States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the
UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education, among reference to other
instruments,
Emphasizing the need to incorporate a gender perspective in all efforts to promote the full
enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons belonging to national or
ethnic, religious or belief and linguistic minorities,
Highlighting the fact that persons belonging to minorities are those most likely to be stateless,
to be targeted by hate speech or hate crimes, and to incitement to violence or even calls to
genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes;
Considering that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national
or ethnic, religious or belief and linguistic minorities contribute to the political and social
stability of States in which they live,
Bearing in mind that conditions of peace and security based on full respect for the purposes
and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations and observance of applicable
human rights instruments are indispensable for the full protection of persons belonging to
national or ethnic, religious or belief and linguistic minorities, in particular during armed
conflicts and foreign occupation,
Convinced that building on the United Nations Declaration of the rights of persons belonging
to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities to protect and promote minority rights
and other relevant international and regional human rights instruments, a comprehensive and
integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons
belonging to national or ethnic, religious or belief and linguistic minorities will make a significant
contribution to redressing the profound disadvantage or marginalisation experienced by persons
belonging to national or ethnic, religious or belief and linguistic minorities globally, and promote
and facilitate their participation in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres with
equal opportunities.