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Home > News > Linguamón and other international organisations present the UN with a draft resolution on linguistic rights

Linguamón - House of Languages, the International Escarré Centre for Ethnic Minorities and Nations (CIEMEN), the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages (EBLUL) and the Catalan division of International PEN, the worldwide association of writers, are due to present a draft resolution seeking international protection for linguistic rights at the UN's office in Geneva today. Supported by the Armenian and Bolivian embassies, the presentation will be held at the same time as a session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will also be taking place in Geneva.

The outcome of this explicit backing for linguistic rights will be a draft resolution to be delivered to the leaders of the Human Rights Council, in order for it to be debated during the body's next session in September 2008.

The presentation is to be led by the heads of the organisations championing the initiative, namely Josep M. Terricabras, director of the Catalan division of International PEN, Neasa Ní Chinnéide of the EBLUL, Aureli Argemí of CIEMEN, and Antoni Mir, director of Linguamón - House of Languages. According to Linguamón's director, 'today's presentation entails further support for linguistic rights as an integral part of human rights. The International Year of Languages 2008, proclaimed by the UN, is a unique opportunity to secure full international recognition for the linguistic rights of the peoples of the world'.

The Barcelona Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights: a vital element in the promotion of rights of language communities

The need for linguistic rights to be included among peoples' inalienable rights was made perfectly clear in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, approved in Barcelona in 1996 by 41 International PEN centres, 40 renowned specialists and 61 NGOs, in addition to a number of figures of the stature of Nelson Mandela and the Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú, among many others.

Today's presentation represents a fresh boost for the recognition of linguistic rights.

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