Minority Rights 2012

Every country has national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities within its borders. Persons belonging to minorities aspire to participate in the public, social, economic, cultural and religious life of the societies in which they live, on an equal footing with the rest of the population.
Twenty years ago, UN Member States adopted unanimously the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, an acknowledgment that a gap existed in minority rights protection. This gap persists today.
The Minority Rights Declaration established that States have an obligation to acknowledge and promote the rights of minorities to enjoy their own cultures and identities, to profess and practice their own religions and use their own languages.
The Declaration ushered in a new era for minority rights. It sets essential standards for protection and offers guidance to States as they seek to realize the human rights of minorities.
You can read more information about the following topics:

• Here you can find statements, speeches, news releases and editorial pieces on minority issues by the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Independent Expert on minority issues and UN mechanisms.   
• Here you can find publications and information material to promote the importance of the Declaration in protecting the rights of minorities.
• Here you can find feature stories on people belonging to minorities and the work of the UN human rights system to protect their rights.
• Here you will find information about meetings and events to mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Minority Rights Declaration.

Use these informations to inform all the people about their rights!

Source: United Nations