MINELRES: CoE FCNM: Opinion on Sweden made public; AC visits Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Original sender: Nicola Markes-Goerlach <Nicola.Markes-Goerlach@coe.int>


Strasbourg 27.03.2008 � National Minorities in Sweden

The Opinion of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for
the Protection of National Minorities on Sweden has been made public at
the government�s request.

The Advisory Committee � an expert body set up under the Council�s
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities - visited
Sweden in May 2007 and adopted its report on 
8 November 2007.

The Committee of Ministers will now draw on the report as it prepares a
Resolution on the issue.

For more information and the full report: www.coe.int/minorities

The Framework Convention is ratified by 39 States. The Convention
includes a monitoring system, whereby the Committee of Ministers,
assisted by an advisory committee, evaluates the adequacy of the
Convention's implementation. The Opinions of the Advisory Committee are
made public upon the adoption of the Committee of Ministers� resolution
but can be made public at an earlier stage at the country�s initiative.

 
National Minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina: visit of the Advisory
Committee on the Framework Convention for the protection of national
minorities

Strasbourg 26.03.2008 - A delegation of the Advisory Committee on the
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM)
visited Bosnia and Herzegovina from 25-28 March 2008 in the context of
the monitoring of the implementation of the Framework Convention by this
country. In addition to Sarajevo, the delegation visited Brcko and Banja
Luka. 

This was the second visit of the Advisory Committee to Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The objective was to evaluate the progress made by Bosnia
and Herzegovina in implementing the Framework Convention and in
particular, to take stock of the legislative and policy measures taken
by the authorities to follow-up on the recommendations of the Advisory
Committee in its first Opinion.

The Delegation had meetings with the representatives of all relevant
ministries, as well as with the Parliament, the Ombudsman Office and
other institutions. In addition to contacts with public officials, the
Delegation also met persons belonging to national minorities and Human
Rights NGOs.

The delegation visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina included Ms Eva
Smith-Asmussen (member elected in respect of Denmark) and Ms Marju
Lauristin (member elected in respect of Estonia). They were accompanied
by Ms Francoise Kempf from the Secretariat. 


Note: Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted its second State Report under the
Framework Convention in August 2007. Following its visit, the Advisory
Committee will adopt its own report (called Opinion) in May 2008, which
will be sent to the Government for comments. The Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe will then adopt conclusions and recommendations
in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina.


Nicola Markes-Goerlach
Council of Europe 
Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs
Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities
F-67075 Strasbourg-Cedex 
http://www.coe.int/minorities


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