Mapping the Field

What is it about?

International law does not provide for a universally accepted definition of 'minorities'. This article analyzes how international expert (treaty) bodies approach the concept of minorities. It will focus on the woks of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the Venice Commission, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, the UN Human Rights Commission and the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues. The analysis of the work of the above-mentioned bodies shows that there is a clear tendency that an inclusive approach, essentially based on free self-identification, should be decisive in determining minority membership.

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