National minority standards : a compilation of OSCE and Council of Europe texts

Abstract

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe, guided by the same values and with similar goals and sharing similar challenges, have co-operated to produce this compilation of texts addressing national minority issues. The vigorous endeavours of the OSCE and the Council of Europe to achieve a new peaceful European order after 1989 have resulted also in developing new instruments and strengthening their engagement in national minority issues, although this was not always enough to prevent wars and interethnic conflicts. The aim of this book is to highlight the standards developed for national minorities and to make them known to everyone, including civil society and the authorities directly concerned.