Protection of minorities is the protection of non-dominant groups which, while wishing in general for equality of treatment with the majority, intend for a measure of differential treatment in order to preserve basic characteristics which they possess and which distinguish them from the majority of the society. The protection applies equally to individuals belonging to such groups and wishing the same protection. This protection of minorities required positive action to safeguard the right of the minority groups, provided the people concerned wish to maintain their differences of language, religion and culture. The imperative need to protect the rights of minority groups was felt for the first time when the United Nations inserted their rights in Article 27 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which reads as under: “In those States in which ethnic, relightous or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be dented the right, in community with the other members of their groups, to enjoy their ownk culture, to process and practice their own religion, or to use their own language.†The various papers which were presented in the session of 1985 of the centre for studies and research in international Law and international relations under the suspices of the Hague Academy of International Law, have been collected, after proper editing. In this book with and object of highlighting the urgent attention and the need that the question concerning the protection of minorities deserve.
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