ACFC/31DOC(2008)001 PART I INTRODUCTION 1. The effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in various areas of public life is essential to ensure social cohesion and the development of a truly democratic society. The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities1 (hereinafter ‘the Framework Convention’) therefore stipulates in its Article 15 that State Parties “shall create the conditions necessary for the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in cultural, social and economic life and in public affairs, in particular those affecting them”. 2. In view of the importance of effective participation for the protection of persons belonging to national minorities, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention (hereinafter ‘the Advisory Committee’) decided to devote its second thematic commentary to the participation of persons belonging to national minorities in social, economic and cultural life and in public affairs. The main objective of this commentary is to highlight the interpretation given by the Advisory Committee, mainly in its countryspecific Opinions adopted between 1999 and 2007, to the provisions of the Framework Convention relating to effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities. The commentary aims to provide a useful tool for State authorities and decision-makers, public officials, organisations of minorities, non-governmental organisations, academics and other stakeholders involved in minority protection. 3. The Preliminary Remarks to the Commentary introduce a reflection on the importance of participation and its relevance for the effective enjoyment of other rights guaranteed by the Framework Convention. The Commentary itself analyses a number of key findings on effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities, as identified in particular in the country-specific Opinions under various Articles of the Framework Convention (Part III). In its Conclusions, the Commentary highlights the main challenges which remain in this field and identifies areas which will need to be given further attention by the Advisory Committee in the future country-by-country monitoring. The Appendix contains an analysis of the relations between Article 15 and other articles of the Framework Convention. This Commentary is to be understood as a living document, which will need to be further developed as monitoring under the Framework Convention progresses. 4. In elaborating this Commentary, the Advisory Committee carried out extensive consultations with national minority representatives and organisations, academics and other stakeholders in order to ensure that the Commentary be as comprehensive as possible and that it adequately reflects the main challenges facing national minorities. 1 The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which was adopted in 1994, is the main Council of Europe instrument to protect persons belonging to national minorities. It entered into force in 1998 and it has so far been ratified by 39 Member States. 9