A delegation of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and a delegation of the Committee of Experts (COMEX) of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages are carrying out a coordinated visit to Switzerland this week (2-6 May 2022) to evaluate progress made in the protection of national minorities and minority languages.

This is the fifth visit of the Advisory Committee and the eighth visit of the COMEX to Switzerland. The two delegations are having meetings in Chur, Freiburg and Bern with representatives of the government as well as civil society, representatives of national minorities and speakers of minority languages to discuss the implementation of the Framework Convention and the Language Charter.

Following this visit, the two committees will draw up their respective opinion and evaluation report on the implementation of the Framework Convention and the Language Charter in Switzerland containing specific findings and recommendations for follow-up. The fifth opinion of the Advisory Committee is expected to be published in 2023.