This article has been provided by the Council of Europe. Founded in 1949 and bringing together 46 member states, the Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. A key aspect of its work is to protect the rights of persons belonging to national minorities and promote the use of regional or minority languages. This has been achieved through instruments such as the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, as well as other mechanisms and bodies promoting tolerance, anti-discrimination, diversity, inclusion and equality for all.