The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: A Commentary

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: A Commentary, edited by Rainer Hofmann, Tove H. Malloy and Detlev Rein, presents an updated article-by-article assessment of the monitoring of the Convention’s implementation. The Convention was opened for signature in 1995 and entered into force on 1 February 1998. Within a very short period of time, it was ratified by 39 Council of Europe member states, and it constitutes the first (and only) international treaty establishing legally binding obligations concerning the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. In this volume, the monitoring of the Convention is assessed by eminent experts in the field of minority protection. They survey the scope of application as interpreted by the Advisory Committee during the first four cycles of monitoring by analyzing its approach and offering their individual assessments of potential improvements. The volume thus updates and augments previous assessments.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Rainer Hofmann is Professor of Public Law, Public International Law and European Law at Goethe University, Frankfurt, and President of German Branch of the International Law Association. He was member in respect of Germany of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities from 1998-2004 and from 2008-2012, serving as its President from 1998-2004 and from 2010-2012. He sits on the Executive and the Management Board of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.

Prof. Dr. Tove H. Malloy is Director at the European Centre for Minority Issues in Flensburg, Germany, Adjunct Professor at the Europa-Universität-Flensburg and member in respect of Denmark of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, where she also serves as Gender Equality Rapporteur.

Dr. Detlev Rein is an independent researcher in the field of minority protection and member in respect of Germany of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. He served as Head of Division for national minorities and regional languages in Germany and European policy on minorities at the German Federal Ministry of the Interior.