France criticised by UN over Minority Languages Policy

The French government has once again come in for International criticism
for its failure to give appropriate support and recognition to minority
languages.

In its latest report (E/C.12/FRA/CO/3… May 2008) the United Nations
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights says:

"29. The Committee remains concerned about the lack of official recognition
of minorities within the territory of the State party. With specific
regard to cultural rights, the Committee further notes with concern
that some of these rights are not respected - such as the right to
use a minority language, which can only be exercised in community
with other members of the minority group.

30. The Committee notes with concern that the State party has not
made sufficient efforts in the field of preservation and promotion
of regional and minority languages and cultural heritage. The Committee
also notes that the absence of formal recognition of regional and
minority languages has contributed to the constant decline in the
number of speakers of such languages."

The Committee goes on to recommend:

49. The Committee, while taking note that the recognition of minority
groups or collective rights is considered by the State party to be
incompatible with its Constitution, wishes to reiterate that the principles
of equality before the law and prohibition of discrimination are not
always adequate to ensure the equal and effective enjoyment of human
rights, in particular economic, social and cultural rights, by persons
belonging to minority groups. The Committee therefore recommends that
the State party consider reviewing its position with regard to the
recognition of minorities under the Constitution, and recognise officially
the need to protect the cultural diversity of all minority groups
under the jurisdiction of the State party, in accordance with the
provisions of article 15. In this regard, the Committee reiterates
the recommendation formulated in its previous concluding observations
(E/C.12/1/Add.72, para. 25) that the State party (i) withdraw its
reservation to article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and to article 30 of the Convention on the Rights
of the Child and (ii) consider ratifying the Council of Europe Framework
Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, as well as the
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

The full report of the Committee which covers a wide range of economic,
social and cultural issues can be found at:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/docs/co/E.C.12.FRA.CO.3.doc

The full text of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights can be found at:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cescr.htm

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

26/05/08


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