Strasbourg (France), 30-31 October 2003

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities entered into force in 1998. Seventeen States ratified it at the time. In order to mark the 5th anniversary of its entry into force, the Council of Europe organised a conference in Strasbourg on 30 and 31 October 2003, which brought together a large number of representatives of governments, civil society, minorities as well as eminent experts in the field of minorities.

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities at the end of the first cycle of monitoring
by Rainer Hofmann, President of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities within the context of the Council of Europe
by Boriss Cilevičs, Member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

Comments (specific emphasis on the relations between the Framework Convention and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages)
by Robert Dunbar, Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow

Workshop 1 - Creating the conditions necessary for the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities

Workshop 1: Creating the Conditions necessary for the Effective Participation of Persons belonging to National Minorities  (A critical evaluation of the first results of the monitoring of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities 1998-2003)
by Marc Weller, Director of ECMI

Workshop 1: Commentary on Social and Economic Participation of Persons belonging to National Minorities (Commentary focusing on the Economic Participation of National Minorities)
by Alan Phillips, former First Vice President of the Advisory Committee on the FCNM; Human Rights Advisor

Workshop 2 - Persons belonging to national minorities and the media

Workshop 2: Persons belonging to National Minorities and the Media
by Karol Jakubowicz, Expert, National Broadcasting Council of Poland; Vice-Chairman, Steering Committee on the Mass Media, Council of Europe

Workshop 3 - Educational rights of persons belonging to national minorities

Workshop 3: Educational Rights of Persons belonging to National Minorities
by Duncan Wilson, Associate expert, International Bureau of Education, UNESCO

Presentation of the conclusions of the conference by the General Rapporteur, Patrick Thornberry, Professor of International Law, University of Keele

Interview with Rainer Hofmann, President of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities