Liadh Ní Riada MEP, Sinn Féin, European Free Alliance, European Language Equality Network Hearing

Respecting linguistic diversity? Language Discrimination in the European Union.

Wednesday June 1st  2016.

8.45 -9.25 Registration and Signing In.

9.25  Opening session.
Welcome speech 

Liadh Ní Riada MEP, Davyth Hicks (ELEN Secretary-General)

Introductory Remarks 

Jordi Sebastià MEP, Josep-Maria Terricabras MEP, Josu Juaristi MEP, Marina Albiol MEP, Ramon Tremosa MEP (Moderator, Davyth Hicks).

10.10  Language Rights Issues Keynote: “Making the minority language invisible, the evasion of the minority language crisis in policy.” Mr Conchúr Ó Giollagáin (Soillse, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean). (Moderator, Liadh Ní Riada)

Language Rights and Discrimination in Europe  (Moderator, Liadh Ní Riada).

Language Rights Issues: “Respecting linguistic diversity? Language discrimination in Europe.” Mr Davyth Hicks (ELEN). 

Language  speakers’ rights, revisiting the 1998 OSCE Recommendations.” Mr Miquel   Strubell, Linguapax International. 

Protecting Irish language rights. Mr Rónán Ó Domhnaill (An Coimisinéir Teanga / Irish Language Commissioner). (10-15 Mins)

Linguistic supremacism. Mr Ferran Suay (Acció Cultural del País Valencià (ACPV) / Universitat de València, ELEN Vice-President). 

COFFEE

11.45   Case Studies on Language Discrimination (Moderator, Marina Albiol MEP)

Breton: Mr Tangi Louarn (President, Kevre Breizh and ELEN-EBLUL France, ELEN Vice-President).

Catalan: Ms Neus Mestres (Director, Plataforma per la Llengua) 

Irish: Mr Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin (Advocacy Manager, Conradh na Gaeilge)

Welsh: Ms Tamsin Davies (Cymdeithas Yr Iaith Gymraeg).

Basque: Mr Paul Bilbao-Sarria (Secretary-General, Kontseilua, ELEN Vice-President).

Hungarian in Slovakia: Mr János Fiala (Szlovákiai Magyarok Kerekasztala). 

Hungarian in Romania: Ms Krisztina Sándor (Erdélyi Magyar Nemzeti Tanács).

Occitan: Mr Alexis Quentin (Institut Estudis Occitan, ELEN Vice-President).

Galician: Paulo Filgueiras (A Mesa pola Normalización Lingüística). 

Cornish: Loveday Jenkin (Kowethas An Yeth Kernewek), Arman: Nicolas Caracota (Council of Armans).

LUNCH 13.30

15.00 European and International Norms on regional or minority language rights: are they sufficient? (Moderators, Josu Juaristi, Liadh Ní Riada,)

Mr Sixto Molina, Council of Europe, European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), Head of Secretariat.

Ms Belen Rodriguez de Alba, UN OHCHR, Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section.

Ms Iryna Ulasiuk, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM).

Ms Kristina Cunningham, EU Commission, DG Education and Culture, Multilingualism.

16.00 Language Rights Issues Keynote: “Overcoming language discrimination, the global development of language rights.” Mr Rob Dunbar, Roinn na Ceiltis is Eòlas na h-Alba, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann (Moderator, Liadh Ní Riada). 

Case study on the cultural importance of language in terms of linguistic rights.

Mr Liam Ó Maolaodha, Oireachtas na Gaeilge (Moderator Liadh Ní Riada). (10 Mins)

16.25  COFFEE

Solutions (Moderator, Liadh Ní Riada MEP)

A new alternative “The Protocol to Ensure Language Rights” created by contributions from civil society – the way forward for establishing substantive linguistic rights. Paul Bilbao-Sarria, Kontseilua.

Better implementation of existing mechanisms, the ECRML, FCNM, ECHR, Charter of Fundamental Rights. 

Sixto Molina (CoE ECRML), Intergoup MEP, Kristina Cunningham (EU Commission), Belen Rodriguez de Alba (UN OHCHR).

Languages Directive, new legislation? 

Rob Dunbar: Best practices in protecting languages against discrimination.

Davyth Hicks: An EU Directive for regional, minority or endangered languages.

Conchúr Ó Giollagáin: EU Emergency Commission on Language Endangerment.

Better promotion in the media of linguistic rights

Páidí Ó Lionáird (TV presenter 7 Lá, TG4) (10 Mins)

Mr Maitiú Ó Coimín (Tuarisc.ie). (10 Mins)

17.20  Discussion. (Moderator, Liadh Ní Riada).

17.30 Concluding Speech: “Dealing with language discrimination and ensuring linguistic rights in Europe, recommendations to the EU.” Liadh Ní Riada MEP (Moderator, Davyth Hicks)
17.45 Close

Registration

The hearing is open to the public. In order to gain entry participants are requested to register at least seven working days before the event at: http://www.greens-efa.eu/events/registrations/796-respecting-linguistic-diversity.html 

Contact phone numbers

Liadh Ní Riada MEP Office: +32 (0)2 284 5322

ELEN Office: +32 (0)2 473 683 290

Jordi Sebastia MEP Office: +32 (0)2 284 5743