Indicators for Assessing the Impact of the FCNM in its State Parties: Measuring the Security of Persons Belonging to National Minorities

The security of persons belonging to minorities is intrinsically linked to the implementation of minority protection instruments. This paper addresses the security of persons belonging to minorities in terms of international standards enshrined in the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM). The paper is divided in three parts. First, it presents indicators piloted to measure developments in the political discourse, including government actions and practices induced by the political discourse. Next, it introduces indicators to assess developments in the legislative branch, including public policies addressing issues protected by international standards. Finally, it presents indicators to assess awareness and acceptance in the judiciary branch of government, including not only court rulings but also matters of courts' structures and organization. A final concluding section relates each section to the overall issue of security of persons belonging to minorities through law and politics.