The Human Rights at Issue

The human rights of minorities are explicitly set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities and other widely adhered to international human rights treaties and Declarations. They include the following indivisible, interdependent and interrelated human rights:

The human right of members of minorities to freedom from any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, national or ethnic origin, language, religion, birth, or any other status, which has the purpose or effect of impairing the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms

The human right of members of minorities to freedom from discrimination in all areas and levels of education, employment, access to health care, housing, and social services.

The human right of each member of a minority to equal recognition as a person before the law, to equality before the courts, and to equal protection of the law.

The human right of all members of minorities to participate effectively in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life.

The human right of members of minorities to freedom of association.

The human right of minorities to exist.

The human right of minorities to enjoy and develop their own culture and language.

The human right of minorities to establish and maintain their own schools and other training and educational institutions, and to teach and receive training in their own languages.

The human right of members of minorities to participate in shaping decisions and policies concerning their group and community, at the local, national and international levels.

The human right of minorities to autonomy in matters internal to the group, including in the fields of culture and religion.