FRAMEWORK CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES

In February 1995, 22 member States of the Council of Europe, signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The Framework was to become active in 1998. The broad aims of the Convention are to ensure that the signatory states respect for the rights of national minorities, undertaking to combat discrimination, promote equality, preserve and develop the culture and identity of national minorities, guarantee certain freedoms in relation to access to the media, minority languages and education and encourage the participation of national minorities in public life.
Article 25 of the Framework Convention binds the signatory states to submit a report to the Council of Europe containing "full information on the legislative and other measures taken to give effect to the principles set out in this framework Convention" (Council of Europe, 1994, 7).
The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities defines a national minority implicitly to include minorities possessing a territorial identity and a distinct cultural heritage.
However the convention has come under considerable criticism. First of all, not all member states of the European Council have signed and ratified it. France has done neither. Luxembourg and Belgium have signed and have yet to ratify. Also, the provisions offer little new on already existing international treaties. Furthermore, they are hedged around with many phrases including 'as far as possible'.
Overall however, Phillips (2002) has argued that because the FCNM is flexible it has allowed such a great number of states to ratify it so quickly. Therefore it should not be considered a failure, but a start. Many authors, agree with this arguing that it needs to be implemented in 'good faith' with the political will to support commitment to minority rights.

Contents

References

See also

External links

References

See also

★ European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

★ Languages of the European Union

★ UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities

External links

★ Council of Europe

★ Statute of the Council of Europe

★ Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities

★ The Cornish and the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

★ MK and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

★ Eurominority map of minorities, native peoples and ethnic groups

★ European languages

★ The International Protection of Minority Rights

★ Cornish Bureau for European Relations - CoBER