Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, 1994

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is a treaty of the Council of Europe* aimed at protecting minority groups within Europe. Adopted in 1994, it is the world’s first legally-binding multilateral treaty to protect national minorities.  The treaty does not define ‘national minority’ but instead leaves it up to each country to decide on its own definition of the term.

Parties to the convention must agree to promote the full equality of persons belonging to national minority groups in all areas of economic, social, political, public and cultural life.

*The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, is an international organization whose goal is to protect human rights, democracy, and rule of law in Europe. There are currently 47 member states in the organization. The Council of Europe cannot make binding laws but can enforce existing human rights laws.