Shadow report on the application of the Minority Framework Convention

Cluj-Napoca /Kolozsvár, April 3, 2017℘

At the beginning of 2017, the Civic Engagement Movement, together with the NGO called Advocacy Group for Freedom of Identity (AGFI), based in Cluj-Napoca/Kolozsvár, submitted a joint shadow report on the application of the Council of Europe’s The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. In this joint shadow report, we highlighted shortcomings which disproof the official state reports contained in the preliminary monitoring cycles and the fact that, according to Romania’s official position, there are no significant problems in applying the Convention. In the shadow report we presented our anti-discrimination procedures, strategic litigation, we pointed out the linguistic landscape of bilingual language schools, talked about our street signs lawsuits and about the results of the Kolozsvár city sign lawsuit. Related to the time period covered by the joint shadow report, it should be noted that Romania submitted its 4th state report in February 2016, with 24 months delay. Despite being submitted in 2016, the state report covers only the period of 2010-2013. However, due to the difficulty of formulating an accurate assessment of a past situation and making recommendations based on a time-period that ended three years ago, CEMO’s and AGFI’s joint shadow report covers the situation up to 28 February 2017.

While the report addresses minority rights issues in general, it focuses in particular on the situation of the Hungarian community, the largest minority in Romania, amounting to 6.5% of the population.

The full text of the shadow report in English can be sent on request, by e-mail or by post. Please send your request to info@cemo.ro