NATIONAL MINORITIES I. Towards democratic standards of rights and protection
Publisher: STINA d.o.o, Split, Šetalište Bacvice 10
Publisher representative: Goran Vezic
Editors: Stojan Obradovic, Sinisa Tatalovic
Authors: Mirjana Domini, Davor Gjenero, Milan Ivanovic, Milica Pesic, Sinisa Tatalovic, Mitja Zagar
Design: Zoran Krželj
Print: TYPO, Omis
Split, 2003.
The brochure is a part of project Educational-informative service for minority rights and inter-ethnic tolerance which STINA news agency realised with the aid of the European Union, as part of Program European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights for Croatia, 2000. Other contents of the project are available at STINA website www.stina.hr Minorities are advantage, not burden
Development and protection of national minorities' rights (but also rights of other minorities) and inter-ethnic tolerance causes many problems today, even in much more developed democratic societies than Croatian. However, protection of those rights represents an important test of new democratic development and new democratic culture. Croatian state and society belong to those communities where facing these issues is much more difficult due to war heritage, lack of democratic traditions and institutions; and problems are greater beyond comparison. Recent war events in Croatia greatly devastated and put a stigmata on the culture of minority rights and inter-ethnic tolerance. Therefore Croatia belongs to societies which have to re-build these elements of multi-culturalism.
Passing of Constitutional Law on National Minorities' Rights has caused deep political disputes and, unfortunately, testified to misapprehension of this problems even among political structures which should be positive about protection and development of minority rights. Also, passing the law is only a condition for culture of minority rights to start being developed. Of course, the law itself is not enough and there will have to be much effort in order to create social atmosphere where "others" won't be a curse, but richness, a "resource" which offers many advantages to every community, an atmosphere sustaining that protection and development of minority rights, inter-ethnic tolerance, multiculturalism is one of important conditions of revitalisation, democratisation and general progress of a society. STINA news agency, which has been working on various media project to aid culture of minority rights and inter-ethnic tolerance, with support from the European Union (Program European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights in Croatia, 2000.) realised the project Educational- information service for minority rights and inter-ethnic tolerance (available at STINA website: www.stina.hr ) . The goal of this project was to contribute to competent informing and education of the public about values and importance of accepting and protecting minorities, inter-ethnic tolerance and models for organisation of joint life in multiethnic communities as unavoidable conditions for total democratisation and complete development of Croatian society on its way into Europe. Part of this project are also two brochures about protection and rights of national minorities. This brochure talks about modern European trends regarding this issue, with most important international documents related to minority rights. Second brochure is focused on Croatian situation, especially in the context of new Constitutional Law on National Minorities' Rights.
Brochures are made for media, NGOs and other institutions dealing with these issues, but are also intended for both minorities and majority in order to start positive practice of tolerance and appreciation. CONTENTS I. PART 1. Sinisa Tatalovic EUROPEAN MODELS OF NATIONAL MINORITES' RIGHTS 2. Sinisa Tatalovic DEVELOPMENT OF MINORITY RIGHTS AS CONFLICT PREVENTION 3. Mitja Zagar: MODERN TRENDS IN DEVELOPMENT OF PROTECTION OF MINORITIES AND SPECIAL RIGHTS OF NATIONAL AND OTHER MINORITIES 4. Milan Ivanovic MINORITY EDUCATION RIGHT – IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY 5. Davor Gjenero POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION AS INSTRUMENT OF MINORITY RIGHTS' PROTECTION 6. Milica Pesic TOLERANCE BEGINS WHEN WE ADMIT TO OUR PREJUDICES 7. Mirjana Domini MINORITIES ARE KEY TO MODERN EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS
II. PART Introduction Sinisa Tatalovic RIGHTS OF NATIONA MINORITIES IN INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS Addendum 1 DECLARATION OF REJECTION OF ALL FORMS OF INTOLERANCE AND DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RELIGION OR BELIEFS Adopted at UN General Assembly, 25th November 1981 Addendum 2 EXCERPTS FROM DOCUMENTS OF KOPENHAGEN MEETING OF OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION CONFERENCE Representatives from 34 OSCE member states passed Document during their meeting in Copenhagen from 5th to 25th June 1990 Addendum 3 EXCERPT FROM PARIS CHAPTER – FOR NEW EUROPE New era of democracy, peace and unity Addendum 4 EXCERPTS FROM DOCUMENTS OF MOSCOW MEETING OF OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION CONFERENCE Addendum 5 EUROPEAN CHARTER ON REGIONAL OR MINORITY LANGUAGES Confirmed by Commission of Ministers on 22nd June 1992 at 478th ministers' deputies meeting Addendum 6 FRAMEWORK CONVENTION FOR PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES' RIGHTS Addendum 7 SEI INSTRUMENT FOR PROTECTION OF MINORITIES' RIGHTS Addendum 8 LUND RECCOMENDATIONS REGARDING EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IN PUBLIC LIFE