Within its remit and according to the Standing Orders of the Sejm, the National and Ethnic Minorities Committee deals with matters concerning maintenance of cultural heritage of national, ethnic and linguistic minorities, protection of their rights as well as implementation of the principle of equal treatment of persons regardless of their ethnic and racial origin or nationality.
The Polish State acknowledges nine national minorities: German, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Lithuanian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Armenian and Jewish; four ethnic minorities: Roma, Jewish, Tatar and Karaim; and one regional language: Kashubian, which is used by Kashubians (an ethnic group) in Poland. The Committee's work covers all issues connected with maintaining cultural identity, protecting the rights and preventing discrimination of the above groups.