Adi Tatar: European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. http://www.coe.int/lportal/web/coe-portal/what-we-do/culture-and-nature/minority-languages?dynLink=true&layoutId=63&dlgroupId=10226&fromArticleId= European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages The Charter is the European legal frame of reference for the protection and promotion of languages used by members of minorities. It entered into force in 1998 and confirms together with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities the Council of Europe’s commitment to the protection of national minorities. A minority language will only survive if it is used everywhere and not just at home. Therefore, the Charter obliges States Parties to actively promote the use of these languages in virtually all domains of public life: education, courts, administration, media, culture, economic and social life, and transfrontier co-operation. The Council of Europe monitors that the Charter is applied in practice. Several improvements in the situation of minority languages can be attributed to the Charter and recommendations made during the monitoring procedure. Examples include the recognition of minority languages which had previously not enjoyed any status (such as Croatian in Slovenia) or the right to use Frisian family names in the Netherlands. Denmark adopted several special arrangements for its German minority when merging municipalities in North Schleswig. In Northern Ireland, a licence for the broadcasting of private radio in Irish was allocated. Norway presented an action plan to ensure the use of Sami in hospitals, and Sweden established a right to use Finnish in relations with authorities and courts. Web Content Display What is a regional or minority language? Giving regional and minority languages a say Web Content Display Charter simulation in Russia An expert team will simulate the application and monitoring of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in the Russian Altai region in 2010 and 2011. A first on-the-spot visit to the German National District of Halbstadt and the Kazakh settlement of Baygomut took place in July 2010. (more...) Report Web Content Display European Minority Song Contest The European Minority Song Contest Liet International, placed under the patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, moved for the first time to France in order to celebrate its 7th edition, on 27 November 2010. In the framework of the InterCeltique Festival, the event promoted contemporary new songs in minority languages. (more ...) Bands from Frioul and Faroe Islands win song contest Photo Gallery Flickr Gallery Web Content Display 20-21 April 2009, Bilbao: conference: protecting minority languages in Europe: Achievements and challenges (more ...) Programme 17 October 2008, Lulea (Sweden): Conference on the 10th anniversary of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (more...) 17-06-11 00:34
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