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Protection of minority rights in conflict prevention 2010, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Economic exclusion is a cause, a manifestation and a consequence of discrimination against persons belonging to minorities. Many minorities have historically been excluded from full and effective participation in economic life, both in the developed and in the developing world. Minorities are often discriminated against when they seek employment, for example, on the basis of their colour, their religion, their language, their names, or even their addresses. Minorities are often poorly represented even in public sector employment and despite legislation that bans discrimination in both public and private sectors. They may face barriers in accessing credit or loans to begin small businesses and may live in the poorest regions or remote areas that offer limited prospects for their economic development. Equally, large-scale economic development projects or commercial activities carried out on the lands and territories where minorities live without their prior consultation has had negative impacts, including displacement, the perpetuation of poverty and, in some cases, violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The role of minority rights protection in promoting stability and conflict prevention 2011, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- Economic exclusion is a cause, a manifestation and a consequence of discrimination against minorities, both in the developed and in the developing world. Minorities are often discriminated against when they seek employment and are often poorly represented even in public sector employment and despite legislation that bans discrimination in both public and private sectors. They may face barriers in accessing credit or loans to begin small businesses and may live in the poorest regions or remote areas that offer limited prospects for their economic development. Equally, large-scale economic development projects or commercial activities carried out on the lands and territories where minorities live, without their prior consultation, have had negative impacts, including displacement, the perpetuation of poverty and, in some cases, violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Institutional attention to minority rights can assist in international cooperation and prevent international tensions relating to the treatment of minorities. The existence of minorities in a State may have cross-border implications, in cases where, for example, they have a "kin" State or external religious ties. Minorities have the right to maintain peaceful contacts across frontiers. Owing to historical or geopolitical factors, the treatment of minorities may be sensitive. The Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has produced recommendations on national minorities in inter-State relations. While protection of minorities is primarily the responsibility of the State of residence, States are encouraged to conclude bilateral treaties and arrangements, share information and concerns, pursue interests and ideas, and support minorities on the basis of friendly inter-State relations. States are recommended to use instruments, including advisory and consultative bodies such as minority councils or joint commissions, and establish mediation and arbitration mechanisms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- Bosnia and Herzegovina highlighted the existence of a department for the protection of the rights of, and cooperation with, national minorities and religious groups, which exists within the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees. It employs national minorities; in this regard, Roma coordinators work in the Ministry and in four regional offices. A Department for Minorities also operates within the ombudsman's office. Councils of national minorities at the State level and within autonomous entities function to preserve and develop ethnic, national, religious and cultural identity and assist efforts to reintegrate communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The role and activities of national institutional mechanisms in promoting and protecting minority rights 2012, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- The National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues of Bulgaria is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister. It coordinates State programmes and policies relating to ethnic minorities and monitors implementation of integration policies, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Non-governmental organizations representing minorities, including Roma, are members. The High Commissioner for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue of the Government of Portugal, within the Ministry of the Presidency of the Council of Ministries, has a specific mandate to address minority rights and a specialist office for support to Roma people.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Priorities for the work of the Independent Expert and the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities 2012, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- Customary law used by minorities, as well as laws in general, may disadvantage minority women, and entrenched gender roles may leave them highly vulnerable, particularly with regard to ownership of land or property, inheritance rights and access to credit, technology or markets. Displacement as a result of a wide range of reasons, such as war, men having been forced to flee or killed in a conflict, increased poverty and climate change have had the effect of loss of land and property, as well as putting minority women at risk of, inter alia, kidnapping, sexual exploitation, violence and HIV/AIDS.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- The Independent Expert's evaluation of minority issues is based on the Declaration and other relevant international standards. She identifies four broad areas of global concern: (a) the protection of a minority's existence, including combating violence against them and preventing genocide; (b) the protection and promotion of the identity of minority groups and their right to enjoy their collective identity and to reject forced assimilation; (c) the guarantee of the rights to non-discrimination and equality, including the ending of structural or systemic discrimination and the promotion of affirmative action when required; and (d) the right to effective participation in public life and decisions that affect them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities 2013, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Information received from all regions regrettably reveals the far greater risks faced by religious minorities both in times of peace and during conflict and post-conflict contexts. Such persons may be individually targeted or face insecurity primarily during community activities. At the level of the group, violations include forced displacement and cultural cleansing of towns, villages and other territory from "impure" and "dehumanized" religious "others". In a world of increasing sectarianism, vigilance regarding the vulnerability of minorities within minorities and intra-religious or interdenominational tensions is also necessary.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Historical factors such as colonialism have had a huge global impact on languages, resulting in the marginalization of indigenous and minority languages and a rapid decline in their use. The introduction of colonial languages in Africa, Asia and the Americas initiated the marginalization of native and minority languages. Colonial languages were promoted in education, administration, political life and communications. Minority and indigenous languages were often seen as backwards, a barrier to colonial hegemony, or as slowing national development. It can also be argued that today globalization is having a direct and detrimental impact on minority languages and linguistic diversity, as global communications and marketplaces require global understanding.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Minority language rights and language use have frequently been a source of tensions, both between and within States. Proponents of linguistic rights have sometimes been associated with secessionist movements or have been seen as a threat to the integrity or unity of a State. It has been pointed out that it is often only when minorities assert their rights to identity and language that discrimination or persecution starts. Fulfilling the rights of minorities, including their language rights, is an essential means to prevent tensions from emerging and is a key element of good governance and conflict prevention. If not appropriately addressed at an early stage, such tensions have led to protracted conflicts and deepening of divisions between linguistic groups. Where conflicts have ceased or peacebuilding initiatives are under way, it is essential that all groups in society play a full role in discussions, negotiations and decision-making processes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- The minority rights principles of non-discrimination, equality, participation and consultation must be respected, including with respect to language, to ensure that the issues and views of minorities are taken into account and their needs are adequately addressed. Linguistic minorities must be consulted and have a full and meaningful role in decisions affecting them, including relating to the shaping of language policy and practice, nationally and in the regions in which they live, in such key areas as education and official and administrative communications. Their views, perspectives and concerns should be fully taken into account to ensure that language issues do not become sources of grievances or conflict.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Centralized language policies may give primacy to the dominant national language, while decentralized policies can be more effective in responding to minority and regional language usage patterns and local conditions. Minority rights must also be considered in regional or local contexts. In some regions, such as autonomous minority regions, a particular linguistic minority may constitute the majority population and may have in place extensive provisions for the use of its language as the dominant language of the region in administration, education and service provision. In such cases it is important to ensure the language rights of those belonging to other communities who may find themselves de facto linguistic minorities in certain localities despite constituting a majority nationally.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- It is essential to have accurate information and data that is disaggregated along language lines, in order to assess the number of minority language speakers, and to understand language issues and the need for measures to address the needs of linguistic minorities. Accurate data reveals issues that may otherwise remain hidden or neglected and allows language issues to be addressed in the localities where they are most present. Such data can reveal correlations between minorities and socioeconomic challenges such as low incomes, poor education outcomes and problems facing minority women that may be connected to language issues and require targeted responses. Such data is rarely collected in census or social surveys, and the national picture of minority language issues and needs is incomplete. Consequently there is no strong statistical foundation for policy or programme formulation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- In the regional context, protection of the rights of linguistic minorities via regional standards is well developed in Europe. The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages provides principles and objectives upon which States parties must base their policies, legislation and practice relating to regional or minority languages. It also provides a series of concrete undertakings relating to specific areas relevant to minority language use, including education, engagement with judicial and administrative authorities, access to public services, media, cultural activities and facilities, economic and social life, and cross-border exchanges. The Charter has been ratified by 25 States and signed by another 8 States. A committee of experts monitors its implementation in each State and makes recommendations for improvements in legislation, policy and practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- The Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities also contains extensive provisions for the protection of the rights of linguistic minorities and minority languages. Articles 5 and 9 to 14 address the responsibilities of the State in, inter alia, the fields of minority language use in public and private spheres, provision of information and engagement with administrative authorities in minority languages, the media, minority languages in education and the right of minorities to establish private educational institutions, the use of names, signs and public information in minority languages, and the use of minority languages in the legal and judicial realm. Despite strong regional standards, implementation continues to be poor in many countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- The phenomenon of minority language decline constitutes an urgent global challenge. The UNESCO Endangered Languages Programme warns that half of the world’s estimated 6,000 plus languages will likely die out by the end of the century. In some cases significant and urgent efforts are required to protect both the communities and their language heritage. The decline in numbers of language speakers may be due to a combination of factors, including the result of processes of cultural dilution through inter-ethnic marriage, voluntary relocation and decline in community numbers. However, some groups are vulnerable to factors beyond their control, such as policies of assimilation that promote dominant national or official languages, the impact of conflict, or forced displacement from their traditional lands. Some countries have aggressively promoted a single national language as a means of reinforcing sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- More than 3,000 languages are reportedly spoken by fewer than 10,000 people each. Some smaller minority communities with distinct languages are considered to be in danger of disappearing completely as distinct linguistic groups due to such factors as resettlement, displacement, conflict, assimilation, cultural dilution, environmental factors and loss of land. While over 20 languages are spoken in Cambodia, UNESCO has warned that 19 Cambodian languages are at risk of extinction over the coming decades. These are not isolated examples, and further research is required globally to enable effective policy responses to protect the existence of linguistic minorities and preserve their language, cultures and traditions for future generations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The lack of domestic legal protection for minority languages in many regions remains a major concern. Legal recognition and legislative protection of minority languages create legal safeguards and a requirement for policy and programme measures to address the issues of linguistic minorities, and often result in institutional attention. Lack of such recognition and legal protections results in an environment where there is little or no formal legal commitment to promoting and protecting minority languages or the rights of linguistic minorities other than those required by international law. In such situations, minority languages may remain largely in the private domain in terms of language use, transmission and education. Frequently, even where minority languages are officially recognized and legal provisions exist this does not result in implementation of rights in practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Some States assign official status to minority languages that may be historically present or are used by a significant proportion of the population, while others establish broader constitutional and legal protection of all languages present in the State. Some States with diverse linguistic communities have adopted specific laws on the use of minority languages. There is a strong legal and symbolic significance to such constitutional and legal recognition, which sends a positive message to minority communities that their language rights will be protected. Where there is no explicit legal recognition there may nevertheless be broader administrative recognition and policy relating to the use of minority languages that provide assurance and practical measures relating to language use, for example, where a linguistic minority is geographically concentrated.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Failure to recognize minority languages may stem from a broader lack of State recognition and acknowledgement of an ethnic or linguist minority group. This may be due to a number of factors, including historical, geographical and political factors and tensions over land and territory. Hence some minorities claim that a process of cultural assimilation may take place that constitutes a grave violation of their rights. In countries with federal structures, the imposition of local or regional languages as the official language of regional states has reportedly resulted in members of some linguistic communities being rendered functionally illiterate and excluded from participation in the public life of the regions in which they live, including on the basis of their lack of language proficiency.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- The ability of minorities to engage institutions and administrative bodies in minority languages ensures that they are able to express their views, participate in consultative processes and influence national policy that affects them and the regions where they live. Where linguistic minorities face language barriers to their interaction with authorities their right to participate fully in public life, as required by the 1992 Declaration on Minorities, may be limited. Some States have population percentage thresholds above which minorities may use minority languages in official interactions with government officials and bodies and qualify for other entitlements relating to languages. These should, however, be set at levels that are not restrictive, and flexibility in approaches is preferable. Where significant minority populations are concentrated it is particularly appropriate to ensure that they have opportunities to use their languages in communication with administrative bodies and authorities, but consideration should also be given to the needs of smaller or dispersed language groups that may face unique challenges.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Decisions as to whether to use public signs in a minority language should be made in consultation with minorities and may best be negotiated at the municipal or local levels. A dual language approach to public signs ensures the rights of other members of the community who do not belong to the linguistic minority; this constitutes a positive practice. In Europe, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities expressly requires that, taking into account their specific conditions, States endeavour “to display traditional local names, street names and other topographical indications intended for the public also in the minority language when there is a sufficient demand for such indications” (art. 11, para. 3). In China, bilingual signs are used in autonomous regions, including Xinjiang and Tibet, where Uighur and Tibetan languages share official status with Chinese.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- To participate fully in economic life and be able to benefit from all opportunities in equality with others it is necessary for minorities to be proficient in the national or State language, certainly if they wish to move beyond local or regional minority areas in which minority languages are used. In some cases the geographic and economic mobility of minorities is severely restricted by lack of proficiency in the national language. Due to language issues, labour market access for minorities may be restricted to certain jobs and localities, with implications for income and the opportunities for employment. Minorities may be restricted to low income or seasonal jobs in such areas as manual labour.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Minorities have reported barriers to their recruitment and continuing employment in the public or government sectors, for example in situations in which the official national language has changed, such as in some countries of the former Soviet Union that gained independence in the 1990s. Even in cases where minorities are proficient in the national language, examples of discrimination against non-native speakers have been reported. In some countries, following conflict or occupation, for example, minorities and returnee communities report that restrictions are placed on their access to employment, and that jobs they previously held are given only to the dominant or majority ethnic and linguistic community. There should be equal access to public sector employment for members of all linguistic communities. In some circumstances evidence suggests that minorities have left their country of residence to return to kin States on the basis of real or perceived restrictions to their opportunities for employment and participation in public life due to language and nationality factors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- Some minorities have reported economic disadvantages and discrimination resulting from policies of population resettlement and mass migration of dominant ethnic and linguistic groups to minority areas. This may result in the marginalization of the minority groups’ languages, which are gradually replaced by the dominant group’s language as an area’s lingua franca and the primary language for employment in a region. Those who are native to the region but do not speak the dominant language have reported becoming ineligible for State employment and finding themselves at a disadvantage for virtually all jobs compared to settlers who may be given priority. Where administrative and government structures are controlled by the dominant community, minority group members report that those employers hire those belonging to their own ethnic and linguistic group.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Proficiency in the State language is sometimes a requirement for access to citizenship and has proved problematic for some who lack such proficiency. While it is legitimate for States to impose some language requirements in order for minorities to fully integrate into society and have access to opportunities for employment, no undue restrictions should be imposed, for example for those who have been long-term residents of a country. Language proficiency should not be the primary criteria for or a barrier to acquisition of citizenship, particularly where official languages have changed. Adequate language-education opportunities should be made available, including for those who may face particular challenges due to such factors as age, income or the locality in which they live.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- Some persons belonging to minorities may face particular challenges in learning the national language, including the elderly and those who have not attended education in their country of residence, those with low incomes, the relatively newly arrived, and in some cases women. For them, the ability to engage administrative authorities and receive information and documents in their language can be essential to their ability to comply with administrative requirements and to benefit from administrative and social assistance to which they are entitled. Where larger and established minority language communities exist in a country, it is necessary to ensure to the fullest extent possible that public institutions in all relevant regions are equipped to handle interactions in minority languages if required.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- The challenges experienced by linguistic minorities are diverse and differ significantly according to their specific circumstances and legal and policy conditions in their countries of residence. Some linguistic minorities are well integrated, able to use their languages in public and private freely and find an accommodation of their language rights and needs in administration, education and service provision. For others, lack of official recognition or language policy and programmes for linguistic minorities results in an environment in which there is little or no provision made for minority languages. In some countries linguistic minorities may live mainly in rural or remote regions where their community interactions are always in minority languages but their children’s education is only in the national or official State language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Nevertheless, a reasonable degree of accommodation of smaller and lesser-used languages should be provided. Modalities to support small or dispersed linguistic communities must be considered and can include support for informal language classes within or outside the public education structures and ensuring consultation with cultural associations representing linguistic minorities to assess and respond to specific needs. Factors such as voluntary and forced migration, conflict, climate change, and the opening of borders, for example across the Europe Union member States, are creating ever more diverse ethnic and linguistic societies in which language rights and needs must be taken into account.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- While resources available to a State are a factor, Governments must nevertheless fulfil their obligations to the best of their ability for all linguistic minorities. Numerous cost-effective methods are available to fulfil language rights, including translation of key information, web-based resources targeted at minorities, and policies of promoting training of minorities and their recruitment at national and local levels in public institutions. The use of minority mediators is a positive practice utilized by some States to improve communication with minorities. It may also be appropriate to encourage and facilitate cross-border cooperation, for example where a linguistic minority has a neighbouring or kin State with a shared language tradition.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph