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Concluding Document of the Conference for Security and Co-operation
in Europe Follow-Up Meeting, Vienna
The Concluding Document of the Vienna Meeting of the OSCE was adopted by the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe on 15 January 1989 and contains a number of provisions relating
to language and equality and the rights of linguistic minorities.
11. [The participating states] confirm that they will respect human rights and fundamental
freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, for all without
distinction as to race, sex, language or religion. They also confirm the universal significance
of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for which is an essential factor for the peace,
justice and security necessary to ensure the development of friendly relations and co-operation
among themselves, as among all states.
13. In this context [the participating states] will...
13.7 - ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms to everyone within their territory and subject
to their jurisdiction, without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status;
16. In order to ensure the freedom of the individual to profess and practice religion or belief, the participating states will, inter alia, ...
16.6 - respect the right of everyone to give and receive religious education in the language of his
choice, whether individually or in association with others;...
16.9 - respect the right of individual believers and communities of believers to acquire, possess,
and use sacred books, religious publications in the language of their choice and other articles and
materials related to the practise of religion or belief;
18. They will protect and create conditions for the promotion of the ethnic, cultural,
linguistic and religious identity of national minorities on their territory. They will respect
the free exercise of rights by persons belonging to such minorities and ensure their full equality
with others.
The full
text version of the Concluding Document of the Vienna Meeting can
be found on the Internet site of the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe
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