Secretariate of the deputy commissioner for fundamental rights ombudsman for the rights of national minorities

The International Conference on Non-Territorial Autonomy as an Instrument for Effective Participation of Minorities kicked off on 24 September with an opening address by the Minority Ombudsman. The event was hosted by Balázs Vizi, Senior Fellow of TK KI, with special guests Olivia Schubert, Vice President of the National Self-Government of Germans in Hungary and Francesco Palermo, Head of Eurac Research, former Senior Expert and Professor at COE and OSCE.

The two-day event, with the participation of prominent national and international experts, was organised by the ENTAN research network, the Institute for Minority Studies of the Centre for Social Sciences of the ELKH and the National University of Public Service. The coexistence of nationality and ethnic groups in all states is a major challenge, often generating conflicts. In many countries, from the Balkans to the Middle East, from Scandinavia to Central Europe, these tensions are characterised by territorial disputes and aspirations for nationality autonomy, which are generally addressed through various forms of territorial administration, political decision-making and participation. 

The second international conference of ENTAN (European Non-Territorial Autonomy Network), a research network supported by the European Union's COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology) programme, will examine whether and how other effective models of non-territorial autonomy, cultural self-government, can facilitate effective political participation of nationality and ethnic minorities.

The event has brought together leading national and international experts in the field, presenting the latest research findings from a political, sociological and legal perspective, in a European context and with a broader perspective. In addition to theoretical issues, the presentations at the conference presented how non-territorial models work through examples from specific countries (Israel, Finland, Lithuania, etc.). 
For Hungary, it is particularly important that the strengths and weaknesses of the Hungarian system of nationality self-governments can be assessed in an international context.