Language rights at international and regional levels Linguistic rights

1 language rights @ international , regional levels

1.1 international platform
1.2 regional platform

1.2.1 africa
1.2.2 europe

language rights @ international , regional levels
international platform

the universal declaration of linguistic rights approved on 6 june 1996 in barcelona, spain. culmination of work committee of 50 experts under auspices of unesco. signatories 220 persons on 90 states, representing ngos , international pen clubs centres. declaration drawn in response calls linguistic rights fundamental human right @ 12th seminar of international association development of intercultural communication , final declaration of general assembly of international federation of modern language teachers. linguistic rights in declaration stems language community, i.e., collective rights, , explicitly includes both regional , immigrant minority languages.

overall, document divided sections including: concepts, general principles, overall linguistic regime (which covers public administration , official bodies, education, proper names, communications media , new technologies, culture, , socioeconomic sphere), additional dispositions, , final dispositions. instance, linguistic rights granted equally language communities under article 10, , everyone, right use language of choice in private , family sphere under article 12. other articles details right use or choice of languages in education, public, , legal arenas.

there number of other documents on international level granting linguistic rights. un international covenant on civil , political rights, adopted un general assembly in 1966 makes international law provision protection of minorities. article 27 states individuals of linguistic minorities cannot denied right use own language.

the un declaration on rights of persons belonging national or ethnic, religious , linguistic minorities adopted un general assembly in 1992. article 4 makes modest obligations on states . states states should provide individuals belonging minority groups sufficient opportunities education in mother tongue, or instruction mother tongue medium of instruction. however, declaration non-binding.

a third document adopted un general assembly in 1989, makes provisions linguistic rights convention on rights of child. in convention, articles 29 , 30 declare respect child s own cultural identity, language , values, when different country of residence, , right child use or own language, in spite of child s minority or immigrant status.

regional platform
africa

linguistic rights in africa have come focus in recent years. in 1963, organisation of african unity (oau) formed defend fundamental human rights of africans. adopted in 1981 african charter on human , peoples rights, aims promote , protect fundamental human rights, including language rights, in africa. in 2004, fifteen member states ratified protocol african charter on human , peoples rights establishing african court on human , peoples rights. court regional, legal platform monitors , promotes au states compliance african charter on human , peoples rights. pending merger court of justice of african union.

in 2001 president of republic of mali, in conjunction oau, set foundation african academy of languages (acalan) work promotion , harmonisation of languages in africa . along inauguration of interim governing board of acalan, african union declared 2006 year of african languages (yoal).

in 2002, oau disbanded , replaced african union (au). au adopted constitutive act drawn oau in 2000. in article 25, stated working languages of union , institutions arabic, english, french , portuguese, , if possible, african languages. au recognizes national languages of each of member institutions stated in national constitutions. in 2003, au adopted protocol amending act such working languages shall renamed official languages, , encompass spanish, kiswahili , other african language in addition 4 aforementioned languages . however, amendment has yet put force, , au continues use 4 working languages publications.

europe

the council of europe adopted european convention on human rights in 1950, makes reference linguistic rights. in article 5.2, reasons arrest , charges have communicated in language understood person. secondly, article 6.3 grants interpreter free in court, if language used cannot spoken or understood.

the council local , regional authorities, part of council of europe, formulated european charter regional or minority languages in 1992. charter grants recognition, protection, , promotion regional and/or minority languages in european states, though explicitly not immigrant languages, in domains of education, judicial authorities, administrative , public services, media, cultural activities, , socio-economic life in articles 8 13. provisions under charter enforced every 3 years committee. states choose regional and/or minority languages include.

the framework convention protection of national minorities implemented council of europe in 1995 parallel activity charter regional or minority languages. framework makes provisions right of national minorities preserve language in article 5, encouragement of mutual respect , understanding , co-operation among persons living on territory , regardless of language, in fields of education, culture , media in article 6. article 6 aims protect persons discrimination based on language.

another document adopted council of europe s parliamentary assembly in 1998 recommendation 1383 on linguistic diversification. encourages wider variety of languages taught in council of europe member states in article 5. recommends language education include languages of non-native groups in article 8.