Abstract

This article examines the international protection of national minorities in the first decade after World War II, challenging the notion that it was believed to be no longer a subject of concern during that time. The author reviews the work of the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, highlighting the intensive efforts made from 1947 to 1955 on the issue of the rights and definition of national minorities. The article argues that the adoption of Resolution 217 C (III), ‘The Fate of Minorities’, marked a new start in the development of the protection of national minorities and emphasizes that the protection of national minorities must be treated as an integral part of human rights.