Representation of Minorities: Rights of Access

Abstract

This paper will examine the Council of Europe's efforts to create, consolidate and advance rights of access of minorities to the media in its standard-setting work. As such, relevant provisions of its three most salient treaties in this area, i.e., the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), will be analysed. Notwithstanding the prima facie differences between the treaties in terms of their respective focuses and objectives, they also usefully complement each other in various ways. The present analysis will briefly show how each of the three treaties has contributed to the goal of ensuring representation in/access to the media for minorities.