Is self-identification of individuals/groups a criterion for recognition and respect of minority or ethnic cultural linguistic religious groups' rights by the state/government?

Code:: RED114
Key Area:: Public Life, Culture, Sport & Media
Strand(s):: Discrimination, Equality

25/01/2013 - 11:19

Short Answer

Yes, self-identification of individuals/groups is a criterion for the recognition as a national minority.

Qualitative Info

In order to be recognised as a national minority in Germany, a group/individual has to fulfill five criteria:
- they hold the German citizenship
- they differ from the majority population in language, culture and history (i. e. have their own identity),
- they wish to preserve their identity as a minority
- they are traditionally native in Germany
- they live on what they consider their hereditary territory
The definition indicates that the self-identification is a crucial factor for the recognition as a minority by the German government.

Source:

Bundesministerium des Innern (2002), Stellungnahme der Bundesrepublik Deutschland zu der Stellungnahme des Beratenden Ausschusses zu dem Bericht über die Umsetzung des Rahmenübereinkommens zum Schutz nationaler Minderheiten in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, http://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Themen/MigrationIntegration/NationaleMinderheiten/Rahmenuebereinkommen_des_Europarates_zum_Id_23218_de.pdf?__blob=publicationFile, Accessed on 22.02.2012.

Groups affected/interested

National minorities

Type (R/D)

Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

External Url

Situation(s)

Library

Indicator history

Germany - 2012

Is self-identification of individuals/groups a criterion for recognition and respect of minority or ethnic cultural linguistic religious groups' rights by the state/government?

Source: