Sistemul instrumentelor internaționale actuale pentru protecția drepturilor persoanelor aparținând minorităților naționale în Europa
The system of present-day international instruments for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities in Europe

Summary/Abstract: The European context of the international norms and standards referring to the protection of national minorities and the rights of persons belonging to national minorities is marked at present by the developments that took place in the last 15 years within the United Nations, the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The European Convention on Human Rights, the cardinal European international treaty acceded by all Council of Europe Member States, does not include special provisions referring to the rights of minorities. Nevertheless, a large number of decisions were ruled by the European Court of Human Rights - which is a source of inspiration to the European Court of Justice of Luxemburg. They referred to expulsion, degrading treatment, freedom of expression, language and religion, family and private life, the right of petition, etc., directly addressing persons belonging to national minorities. The Framework Convention on National Minorities, adopted in 1994 and effective since 1998, is the treaty that defines the present-day international status of national minorities in Europe. The Framework Convention defines the rights of persons belonging to national minorities as individual rights - part and parcel of the fundamental human rights, based on such principles as non-discrimination, genuine equality and participation in the decision-making process with all issues directly affecting the respective minorities.

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