Protecting and promoting linguistic diversity

Presentation by Anahit MinasyanSection for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, UNESCO

Proportion of endangered languages in the world

UNESCO normative framework: non-UNESCO normative framework: non-binding instruments binding instruments

• 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity

(and Action Plan)

• 2003 Recommendation concerning the Promotion and

Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to

Cyberspace

UNESCO normative framework: non-UNESCO normative framework: non-binding instrumentsbinding instruments

2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, Action

Plan:

- safeguarding the linguistic heritage of humanity and giving support to expression, creation and dissemination in the greatest possible number of languages;

- encouraging linguistic diversity – while respecting the mother tongue – at all levels of education, wherever possible, and fostering the learning of several languages from the earliest age; and

- promoting linguistic diversity in cyberspace and encouraging universal access through the global network to all information in the public domain.

UNESCO normative framework: UNESCO normative framework: binding instrumentsbinding instruments

• 1960 Convention against Discrimination in Education

• 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible

Cultural Heritage

(safeguarding language as a vehicle of intangible

heritage)

• 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the

Diversity of Cultural Expressions

(linguistic diversity in cultural activities, goods

and services)

Monitoring implementation of Monitoring implementation of 2003 and 2005 Conventions2003 and 2005 Conventions

2012: first round of periodic reports for the 2003 and 2005 Conventions

• 22 and 48 reports as of 2012

• high rate of responses on language

• information about policies, as well as legislative and institutional measures

• regional , national and supranational level

• analysis ongoing by UNESCO

Preliminary analysis for 2005 Preliminary analysis for 2005 ConventionConvention

a) Activities of countries with recognized indigenous linguistic minorities (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, etc.)

• Adoption of policies and strategies• Adoption of laws and regulations, some of them of a

regional nature• Funding projects, subsidies and grants to non-

government organisations• Public service broadcasting funding and quotas• Formal and non-formal education• Sensitizing majority-language speakers to the problems

of linguistic minorities• Setting up dedicated agencies

Preliminary analysis for 2005 Preliminary analysis for 2005 ConventionConvention

b) Activities of countries with transnational or immigrant language communities (Austria, Denmark, Latvia, New Zealand, Spain, etc.)

•Teaching the language to migrants•Funding translations from and into the national or official language•Funding language institutions abroad

Preliminary analysis for 2005 Preliminary analysis for 2005 ConventionConvention

c) Supranational activities (European Union, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc.)

•translation of written works between countries

•translation from foreign literatures

•promotion of the national language and culture abroad

Reports from European and Latin American countries

International legal instruments relevant to International legal instruments relevant to endangered languagesendangered languages

Binding standard-setting instruments• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (1966)

• Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)• European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (1992)• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Racial Discrimination (1965)• ILO Convention 169 Concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in

Independent Countries (1989)• Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)

Non-binding standard-setting instruments• Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or

Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)• Vienna Declaration and Programme for Action (1993)• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

(2007)