# Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities — selected articles Complete text of the selected provisions cited in the dossier. The complete official act is available in the PDF below. Source texts are separate from the author’s case analysis. Short topic labels are editorial navigation aids; the provision follows each label. 1 February 1995. Articles 5 and 10–14; treaty No. 37548, printed pages 243–276 of complete UNTS volume 2151. Authentic English text of the complete selected articles. [Complete official PDF](/files/documents/framework-convention-national-minorities/original/framework-convention-national-minorities-official.pdf) SHA-256: `de73e47a368dc9eddc930cc85bb41664b983da9fe2bfbc2bb0171c48521b36bc` [Full Convention — Croatian government bilingual promulgation](/files/documents/framework-convention-national-minorities/original/framework-convention-national-minorities-croatia-promulgation-en-hr.pdf) ### Official sources - [Official source · treaties.un.org](https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%202151/v2151.pdf) - [Official source · pravamanjina.gov.hr](https://pravamanjina.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/arhiva/pdf/okvirna_konvencija_za_zastitu_nacionalnih_manjina.pdf) - [Official source · narodne-novine.nn.hr](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/medunarodni/1997_10_14_92.html) ## Article 5 **Preservation of identity and protection against unwilling assimilation** 1. The Parties undertake to promote the conditions necessary for persons belonging to national minorities to maintain and develop their culture, and to preserve the essential elements of their identity, namely their religion, language, traditions and cultural heritage. 2. Without prejudice to measures taken in pursuance of their general integration policy, the Parties shall refrain from policies or practices aimed at assimilation of persons belonging to national minorities against their will and shall protect these persons from any action aimed at such assimilation. ## Article 10 **Minority language in private, public and administrative relations** 1. The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to use freely and without interference his or her minority language, in private and in public, orally and in writing. 2. In areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities traditionally or in substantial numbers, if those persons so request and where such a request corresponds to a real need, the Parties shall endeavour to ensure, as far as possible, the conditions which would make it possible to use the minority language in relations between those persons and the administrative authorities. 3. The Parties undertake to guarantee the right of every person belonging to a national minority to be informed promptly, in a language which he or she understands, of the reasons for his or her arrest, and of the nature and cause of any accusation against him or her, and to defend himself or herself in this language, if necessary with the free assistance of an interpreter. ## Article 11 **Names, private signs and traditional topographical indications** 1. The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to use his or her surname (patronym) and first names in the minority language and the right to official recognition of them, according to modalities provided for in their legal system. 2. The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to display in his or her minority language signs, inscriptions and other information of a private nature visible to the public. 3. In areas traditionally inhabited by substantial numbers of persons belonging to a national minority, the Parties shall endeavour, in the framework of their legal system, including, where appropriate, agreements with other States, and taking into account their specific conditions, to display traditional local names, street names and other topographical indications intended for the public also in the minority language when there is a sufficient demand for such indications. ## Article 12 **Education, research, teacher training and equal access** 1. The Parties shall, where appropriate, take measures in the fields of education and research to foster knowledge of the culture, history, language and religion of their national minorities and of the majority. 2. In this context the Parties shall inter alia provide adequate opportunities for teacher training and access to textbooks, and facilitate contacts among students and teachers of different communities. 3. The Parties undertake to promote equal opportunities for access to education at all levels for persons belonging to national minorities. ## Article 13 **Private minority education and training establishments** 1. Within the framework of their education systems, the Parties shall recognise that persons belonging to a national minority have the right to set up and to manage their own private educational and training establishments. 2. The exercise of this right shall not entail any financial obligation for the Parties. ## Article 14 **Learning the minority language and receiving instruction in it** 1. The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to learn his or her minority language. 2. In areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities traditionally or in substantial numbers, if there is sufficient demand, the Parties shall endeavour to ensure, as far as possible and within the framework of their education systems, that persons belonging to those minorities have adequate opportunities for being taught the minority language or for receiving instruction in this language. 3. Paragraph 2 of this article shall be implemented without prejudice to the learning of the official language or the teaching in this language.