ABSTRACT
The Act on the Rights of National and Ethnic Minorities is a clear indication of the value of autonomy and recognition of collective rights. This chapter examines options for extending minority participation and group focused efforts in order to reduce discrimination and ensure de facto equality. High-profile members of the Roma community have debated the concept of a Roma nation and the drafting of a European Roma Charter recognising their unique situation as a non-territorial minority. The use of the concept of self-determination and more specifically, the scope of 'internal' self-determination will be examined in the light of this approach, along with alternative methods which could be used to extend autonomy and protect the identity of minorities. This analysis will focus on the Hungarian Law on National and Ethnic Minorities, described as 'an effort to implement a new theory of human rights based upon collective rights'.
