20081230_173901 Law and Diversity

8/13/2019 20081230_173901 Law and Diversity

1/12

Law and Diversity

Multilevel Protection of Minorities

Jens Woelk

Master Peace Building (SSI)

Seminar Minority Rights
http://www.pdfdesk.com/


2/12

www.eurominority.euMinority Rights 2
http://www.eurominority.eu/http://www.pdfdesk.com/http://www.eurominority.eu/


3/12

Woelk Minority Rights 3

Minority-Protection: Objectives

(respect of) human dignity

prevention of conflicts

preservation of group-identity and of diversity

inter-cultural society

conflict/controversies are natural in pluralistic anddemocratic societies

inclusive procedures for dialogue and decision-making

cultural diversity as mutual enrichment


4/12


Minority: Wanted - a Definition

No universal valid definition of national / ethnic minority

Distinction: international or domestic law

Criteria:

objective(distinguishing features)

subjective(awareness; acknowledgement and socialrelevance)

New Minorities (still excluded)

Relation with Nation-State:

Building ... Majority-population

Exclusion ... Minority-group

State- legal fiction

Nations- historico-political fictions thatconstitute States


5/12


Minority Rights

Principle of Non-Discriminationno negative - legal - consequences for minority members

Equal Rights (and Duties)relative concept: determination by comparison

CollectiveRights (bearer: group as such) - legitimacy?

I ndividual Rights (bearer: minority member) -problem: group dimension and exercise

Special Rights

Autonomy

Self-determination:

preservationof the group/identity substantialequality

formalequality


6/12

Historical evolution: 5 seasons

1648-1815 WestphaliaOrigins of the modern concept of minority

1815-1918 Treaty of Vienna

territorial changes and treaty-regime

1918-1945 WW I WW IIWilson doctrine; League of Nations

1945-1989 Cold Warbasis: individual HRs

1989-today new international ordernew conflicts minority rights



7/12


Levels of Protection Pluralism of rules and actors

I nternational Law

often not binding necessarily general

EU Law

accession criteria (Copenhagen)

non-discrimination

Race-directive cultural diversity

Bilateral agreements

Domestic Law

Constitution: equality, HRs, recognition, institutions

Ordinary legislation: framework / specific laws Regional legislation: asymmetries, differentiation

Provisions at local level

Standards

???


8/12


International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights (ICCPR) Art. 27

"In those States in whichethnic, religious or linguisticminorities exist, personsbelonging to such minoritiesshall not be denied the right,

in community with the othermembers of their group, toenjoy their own culture, toprofess and practise their ownreligion, or to use their own

language."

most widely accepted legally-binding provision on minorities

not subject to officialrecognition of a minority by aState

no explicit call for specialmeasures by States

States that have ratified areobliged to ensure that allindividuals under their

jurisdiction enjoy their rights

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htmhttp://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htmhttp://www.pdfdesk.com/


9/12


Framework Convention for the Protectionof National MinoritiesFCNM (CoE) ETS no. 157 (1997)

First legally binding international treaty concerningminority-protection, but no directly applicable rights

Preamble: ... essential to stability, democratic security

and in peace in European continent

No precise definition of minority

No explicit recognition of collective rights

Rights of individuals framed as State obligations

Weak monitoring system

www.coe.int/T/E/human_rights/minorities/
http://www.coe.int/T/E/human_rights/minorities/http://www.coe.int/T/E/human_rights/minorities/http://www.pdfdesk.com/


10/12


European Charter for Regional orMinority Languages (CoE) ETS no. 148 (1992)

Emphasis on the cultural dimension,not per se an instrument of minority rights

Respect of State capabilities: la carte-approach,

no direct applicable rights for the speakers Obligations: education, judiciary, administration and

public services, media, culture, economy, social lifeand cross-border exchanges

Aim: diversified and culturally pluralist Europe

www.coe.int/T/E/Legal_Affairs/Local_and_regional_Democracy/Regional_or_Minority_languages/
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Legal_Affairs/Local_and_regional_Democracy/Reghttp://www.pdfdesk.com/http://www.coe.int/T/E/Legal_Affairs/Local_and_regional_Democracy/Reg


11/12


OSCE Recommendations

Soft Law: imposition or persuasion?

Protection and participation

Different approach: set of ideas,non-binding expert recommendations

rather than binding standards LundRecommendations on Effective Participation

of National Minorities in Public Life (September 1999)

OsloRecommendations on Linguistic Rightsof National Minorities (February 1998)

The HagueRecommendations on Education Rightsof National Minorities (October 1996)

www.osce.org/hcnm/documents.html?lsi=true&limit=10&grp=45
http://www.osce.org/hcnm/documents.html?lsi=true&limit=10&grp=45http://www.osce.org/hcnm/documents.html?lsi=true&limit=10&grp=45http://www.pdfdesk.com/


12/12


Evolutionary Process

of conflict-settlement and living-together

Time-factor anddynamics of process

1. End of Conflict:

Compromise

2. I mplementationof the compromise

3. Normalisation:New Orientation

Documents

20081230_173901 Law and Diversity