0.4.3.1. Document of the second meeting in Copenhaguen’s Conference on Human Dimension, 29 June 1990

The representatives of the participating States of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), Austria , Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, the the German Democratic Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, the Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Yugoslavia met in Copenhagen from 5 to 29 June 1990, in accordance with the provisions relating to the Conference on Human Dimension of the CSCE contained in the Concluding Document ot the Vienna Follow-up Meeting of the CSCE.
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IV

30 The participating States recognize that the questions relating to national minorities can only be satisfactorily resolved in a democratic political framework based on the rule of law, with a functioning independent judiciary. This framework guarantees full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, equal rights and status for all citizens, the free expression of all their legitimate interests and aspirations, politica, pluralism, social tolerance and the implementation of legal rules that place effective restraints on the abuse of governmental power.

They also recognize the important role of non-governmental organisations, including, political parties, trade unions, human rights organisations and religious groups, in the promotion of tolerance, cultural diversity and the resolution of questions relating to national minorities.

They further reaffirm that respect for the rights of persons belonging to national minorities as part of universally recognized human rights is an essential factor for peace, justice, stability and democracy in the participating States.

31 Persons belonging to national minorities have the right to exercise fully and effectively their human rights and fundamentl freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law.

The participating States will adopt, where necessary, special measures for the purpose of ensuring to persons belonging to national minorities full equality with the other citizens in the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

32 To belong to a national minority is a matter of a person's individual choice nd no disadvantate may arise from the exercise of such choice.

Persons belonging to national minorities have the right freely to express, preserve and develop their ehtnic, cultural, linguistic or religious identity and to maintain and develop their culture in all its aspects, free of any attempts at assimilation against their will, In particular, they have the right.

32.1 to use freely their tongue in private as well as in public;

32.2 to establish and maintain their own educational, cultural and religious institutions, organisations or associations, which can seek voluntary financial and other contributions as well as public assistance, in conformity with national legislation;

32.3 to profess and practise their religion, including the acquisition, possession and use of religious materials, and to conduct religious educational activities in their mother tongue;

32.4 to establish and maintain unimpeded contacts among themselves within their country as well as contact across frontiers with citizens of other states with whom they share a common ethnic or national origin, cultural heritage or religious beliefs;

32.5 to disseminate, have access to and exchange information in their mother tongue;

32.6 to establish and maintain organisations or associations within their country and to participate in international non-governmental organisations.

Persons belonging to national minorities can exercise and enjoy their rights individually as well as in community with other members of their group. No disadvantatge may arise for a person belonging to a national minority on account of the exercise or non-exercise of any such rights.

33 The participating States will protect the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of national minorities on their territory and create conditions for the promotion of that identity. They will take the necessary measures to that effect after due consultations, including contatcs with organisations or associations of such minorities, in accordance with the decision-making procedures of each State.

Any such measures will be in conformity with the principles of equality and non-discriminations with respect to the other citizens participating State concerned.

34 The participating States will endeavour to ensure that persons belonging to national minorities, notwihstanding the need to learn the official language or languages of the States concerned, have adequate opportunities for instruction of their mother tongue or in their mother tongue, as well as, wherever possible and necessary, for its use before public authorities, in conformity with applicable national legislation.

In the context of the teaching of history and culture in educational establishments, they will also takes account of the history and culture of national minorities.

35 The participating States will respect the right of persons belonging to national minorities to effective participation in public affairs, including participation in the affairs relating to the protection and promotion of the identity of such minorities.

The particpating States note the efforts undertaken to protect and create conditions for the promotion of the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of certain national minorities by establishing, as one of the possible means to achieve these aims, appropiate local or autonomous administrations corresponding to the specific historical and territorial circumstances of such minorities and in accordance with the policies of the State concerned.

36 The participating States recognize the particular importance of increasing constructive co-operation among themselves on questions relating to national minorities. Such co-operation seeks to promote mutual understanding and confidence, friendly and good-neighbourly relations, international peace, security and justice.

Every participating State will promote a climate of mutual respect, understanding, co-operation and solidarity among all persons living on its territory, without distinction as to ethnic or national origin or religion, and will encourage the solution of problems through dialogue based on the principles of the rule of law.

37 None of these commitments may be interpreted as implying any right to engage in any activity or perform any action in contravention of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, other obligations under international law or the provisions of the Final Act, including the principle of territorial integrity of States.

38 The participating States, in their efforts to protect and promote the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, will fully respect their undertakings under existing human rights conventions and other relevant international instruments and consider adhering to the relevant conventions, if they have not yet done so, including those providing for a right of complaint by individuals.

39 The participating States will co-operate closely in the competent international organisations to which they belong, including the United Nations and, as appropriate, the Council of Europe, bearing in mind their on-going work with respect to questions relating to national minorities.

They will consider convening a meeting of experts for a thorough discussion of the issue of national minorities.

40 The participating States clearly and unequivocally condemn totalitarianism, racial and ethnic hatred, anti-semitism, xenophobia and discrimination against anyone as well as persecution on religious and ideological grounds. In this context, they also recognize the particular problems of Roma (Gypsies).

They declare their firm intention to intensify the efforts to combat these phenomena in all their forms and therefore will

40.1 take effective measures, including the adoption, in conformity with their constitutional systems and their international obligations, of such laws as may be necessary, to provide protection against any acts that constitute incitement to violence against persons or groups based on national, racial, ethnic or religious discrimination, hostility or hatred, including anti-semitism;

40.2 commit themselves to take appropriate and proportionate measures to protect persons or groups who may be subject to threats or acts of discriminations, hostility or violence as a result of their racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious edentity, and to protect their property;

40.3 take effective measures, in conformity with their constitutional systems, at the national, regional and local levels to promote understanding and tolerance, particularly in the fields of education, culture and information;

40.4 endeavour to ensure that the objectives of education include special attention to the problem or racial prejudice and hatred and to the development of respect for different civilisations and cultures;

40.5 recognize the right of the individual to effective remedies and endeavor to recognize, in conformity with national legislation, the right of interested persons and groups to initiate and support complaints against acts of discrimination, including racist and xenophobic acts;

40.6 consider adhering, if they have not yet done so, to the international instruments which address the problem of discrimination and ensure full compliance with the obligation therein, including those relating to the submission of periodic reports;

consider, also, accepting those international mechanisms which allow States and individual to bring communications relating to discrimination before international bodies.