Journal of Social Welfare and Human Rights

Minorities under International Law: How protected they are?
Emilia Papoutsi

Abstract
The aim of this essay is to provide its readers with a substantial but yet critical analysis of the status of minorities under International Law. For that purpose the introductory part shall provide a general framework concerning the conception of minorities in general and a view on the International Law system. The first half of the main part shall contain –chronologically evolving- a historic perspective -as far as laws/law systems and politics are concerned- in relevance to minority protection and afterwards a focus on the leading thus most active international organizations and protective ‘’regimes’’ –namely a) the Council of Europe, b) OSCE, c) United Nations and d) EU. The second half of the main part shall include some characteristic case studies, their judicial decisions and their impact. The last but not least part of the essay includes comments, critical evaluation and conclusion remarks.

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