Minority rights

Minority rights combine equality guarantees with protections for identity, culture, language, religion and participation in public life. They may require states not only to avoid discrimination but also to allow minority communities to maintain schools, associations, media, traditions and religious practices, subject to general law. In Switzerland, multilingualism, religious diversity and the protection of linguistic communities make the topic especially relevant. Minority rights also intersect with indigenous peoples’ rights internationally, but the legal frameworks and beneficiaries are not identical.