Synopses & Reviews
This volume provides the first expert commentary on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which is the principal international document establishing minority rights in a legally binding way. Many minority rights such as those to political participation, non-assimilation, and the use of native languages are not incorporated in other major Human Rights agreements. The Convention is therefore often taken to be the leading standard in this area of regulation. This commentary offers a detailed article-by-article analysis of the Convention, drawing upon its negotiating history and implementation practice, in addition to examining the pronouncements of the Advisory Committee, which is the implementation body attached to the treaty.
About the Author
Marc Weller is Director of the European Centre for Minority Issues and an Assistant Director of Studies in the Centre of International Studies at the University of Cambridge where he lectures on international law. He is a Fellow of the Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law and of Hughes Hall, Cambridge.
Table of Contents
Preface,
Marc WellerIntroduction to the Council of Europe System of Minority Rights Protection and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Rainer Hofmann
Locating the Framework Convention within the universal system of human rights, Asbjørn Eide
Preamble
Article 1. Principle of non intervention-link to human rights, Hans-Joachim Heintze
Article 2. Good faith in application of FCNM, Peter Hilpold
Article 3. Nomination of minority groups, Hans-Joachim Heintze
Article 4. Principle of equality, Gudmundur Alfredsson
Article 5. Non-assimilation - Development of identity, Geoff Gilbert
Article 6. Tolerance, Geoff Gilbert
Article 7. Freedom of assembly association-expression-thought-religion, Zdenka Machnyikova
Article 8. Religion, Zdenka Machnyikova
Article 9. Expression - Media, John Packer and Sally Holt
Article 10. Use of language, Fernand de Varennes
Article 11. Use of names and signs, Fernand de Varennes
Article 12. Education, Patrick Thornberry
Article 13. Identity, Patrick Thornberry
Article 14. Language education, Patrick Thornberry and Fernand de Varennes
Article 15. Effective participation, Marc Weller
Article 16. Prohibition of demographic manipulation, Jennifer Jackson Preece
Article 17. Cross-frontier contacts, Jennifer Jackson Preece
Article 18. Bilateral relations, Jennifer Jackson Preece
Article 19. Limitation of derogations, Lauri Hannikainen
Article 20. Respect of legislation, Peter Hilpold
Article 21. No violation of international law, Peter Hilpold
Article 22. No derogation from human rights, Lauri Hannikainen
Article 23. Conformity to ECHR, Peter Hilpold
Articles 24-26. Advisory Committee, Topidi
Articles 27-32. Concluding provisions, Matthew Draper
Conclusion: Advancing minority rights at regional and universal level, Marc Weller
Appendix: The European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities