Abstract
We were both lucky to have been able to work with Professor Rainer Hofmann within the context of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and its Advisory Committee, and in the field of minority rights in general – in practice and in the academic world. One of the issues, among many others, that has been occupying many experts has been the issue of how to ensure access to minority rights and thereby all the benefits for entire diverse societies. Rainer has been involved, in his expert advisory role, in many practical endeavours to draft concrete laws on minority rights. We have tried to do justice to his notable work and his creative thinking about this subject matter, with these theoretical and practical reflections on drafting laws on national minorities and persons belonging to them. Above all, we have cherished his advisory role with his endeavours to always call for best local ideas, in consultation with the broadest number of the diverse relevant stakeholders.