Rights of Persons belonging to Minority Groups: Archbishop Tomasi

(March 15, 2012) Persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities have become increasingly aware of their own rights but violence against them has not ceased, says the Holy See. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, said this on Wednesday during the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, as it celebrated the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities in the world. The Prelate added that such problems are due, either to indifference or to the political will to marginalize or to suppress, or even to eliminate, communities with a different ethnic or religious or linguistic identity. The Archbishop explained that distinct ethnic, religious or linguistic groups within a State can enrich its cultural and social life. The success of such contribution, however, is linked to the ability and duty of each respective group to be open to dialogue as individuals do not exist for themselves alone, but achieve their full identity in relation to others. The same can be said about groups of people. They indeed have a right to a collective identity that must be safeguarded, in accordance with the dignity of each member. The Archbishop called on all the States in which all are partners through common citizenship, and which maintains laws and institutions that are at the service of everyone, can effectively carry out its responsibility to guarantee peace and promote the constructive contribution of all citizens.