ACFC/31DOC(2008)001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 4
PART I
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 9
PART II
PRELIMINARY REMARKS....................................................................... 10
1. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION OF
PERSONS BELONGING TO NATIONAL MINORITIES: THE FRAMEWORK
CONVENTION AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS .......................... 10
2. CORE CONSIDERATIONS ON ARTICLE 15 OF THE FRAMEWORK
CONVENTION ................................................................................................................ 11
a) Effective participation, full and effective equality and promotion of national
minorities’ identity and culture......................................................................................... 11
b) Effective participation on “issues affecting national minorities” ................................. 12
c) “Effectiveness” of participation.................................................................................... 12
d) Effective participation of national minorities and intercultural dialogue..................... 13
PART III KEY FINDINGS ON PARTICIPATION OF PERSONS BELONGING TO
NATIONAL MINORITIES IN CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE AND
IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS...................................................................................................... 14
1) PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE ...................................... 14
a) Availability of statistical data on the socio-economic situation of persons belonging to
national minorities ............................................................................................................ 15
b) Legislation prohibiting discrimination in socio-economic life..................................... 15
c) Capacity of public service to deal with socio-economic needs of persons belonging to
national minorities ............................................................................................................ 16
d) Participation of persons belonging to national minorities in socio-economic life in
depressed regions .............................................................................................................. 17
e) Participation in socio-economic life of persons belonging to disadvantaged national
minorities .......................................................................................................................... 18
f) Access to land and property as a condition for participation in socio-economic life ... 18
g) Residency, language and other requirements as a condition for participation in socioeconomic life..................................................................................................................... 19
h) Housing standards and participation in socio-economic life........................................ 20
i) Health care and participation in socio-economic life .................................................... 20
2) PARTICIPATION IN CULTURAL LIFE ............................................................... 21
3) PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS .............................................................. 22
a) Participation of persons belonging to national minorities in legislative process.......... 23
i. Political parties .............................................................................................................. 23
ii. Design of electoral systems at national, regional and local levels ............................... 24
iii. Administrative and constituency boundaries............................................................... 25
iv. Reserved seats system.................................................................................................. 26
v. Parliamentary practice .................................................................................................. 26
vi. ‘Veto’ rights................................................................................................................. 27
vii. Citizenship requirements ............................................................................................ 27
viii. Language proficiency requirements .......................................................................... 28
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