Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities shall establish principles in the field of public life for persons belonging to national minorities and in this respect individual and collective rights.

It " is the first legally binding multilateral instrument in Europe, which is the protection of national minorities in general dedicated. It aims to protect the existence of national minorities in the respective territories of the Contracting States ".

The Framework Convention was drawn up in the Council of Europe, signed in Strasbourg on 1 February 1995 and entered with 12 ratifications on 1 February 1998 generally in force.

Section I (Articles 1 to 3) granted to any associated person of a national minority have the right to choose to be treated as a member of the minority or not ( Article 3). The explanatory report to the Convention clarifies that it is not right of the individual is derived to select the membership of a national minority free.

Section II (Articles 4-19 ) establishes the right of every person belonging to a national minority to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association (Article 7), freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom and access to the media.

Furthermore liberties when it comes to the use of language, education and cross -border cooperation, etc., resigned.

On the implementation of the Framework Convention by the Parties, the Committee of Ministers monitored ( Article 24).