The document provides an overview of UN initiatives and declarations regarding minority rights protection compared to country-specific issues and programs. It discusses the 1992 UN Minorities Declaration which defines minorities based on national, ethnic, cultural, religious or linguistic identity and calls on states to protect their existence. It also outlines two key UN declarations: the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted in 2007 and the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities adopted in 1992.

1. Minority Rights
An Overview and Comparison
The UN Initiatives Compared to Country
Specific Issues and Programs

2. Protection of Minoritieshttp://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/MinorityRights_en.pdf
http://www.eurac.edu/SiteCollectionImages/Institutes/focus_diversity.jpg
Adopted by
consensus in
1992, the United
Nations Minorities
Declaration
in its article 1
refers to
minorities as
based on national
or ethnic, cultural,
religious and
linguistic
identity, and
provides that
States should
protect their
existence.

3. OHCHR Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights
UNHCR The United Nations
Refugee Agency

4. The United Nations Overview
“The United Nations is an
international organization, composed
of a number of separate bodies that
are responsible for addressing
security, economic, humanitarian, and
other issues. The UN Charter sets
forth the organization’s
purposes, which include maintaining
peace and security; promoting
economic, social, cultural, and
humanitarian cooperation; and
promoting and encouraging respect
for human rights.”http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuideMinorities1en.pdf

5. UN Minority Rights Declarations
United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
•Adopted by General Assembly Resolution
A/61/L.67 of 13 September 2007
Declaration on the Rights of Persons
Belonging to National or
Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic
Minorities
• Adopted by General Assembly resolution 47/135
of 18 December 1992

6. Going forward how the
United Nations Agencies
Help National and Regional
Organizations