EDITORIAL

In the present issue you will find a law adopted by the Finnish Parliament, which entered into force in January this year. It is the “Sámi Language Act” and it entails the introduction of a number of facilitations for the community of speakers of this language in Finland as well as a step forward in the promotion of the Sami language. The law, which replaces Law 516/1991 on the Use of the Sami Language Before the Authorities, protects Sami speakers in their dealings with the authorities and promotes the learning of the language. However, an aspect which may blur its positive effects is the lack of financial resources available to the authorities in order to enforce the provisions contained in the law. Such handicap might put the materialisation of the language rights of Sami-speakers at risk.

We also reproduce a law adopted by the Italian Parliament which reorganises the radio and television broadcasting system. The adoption of this law is quite controversial, as it stands in contradiction with the Law 482/99 of 15 December 1999, entitled “Regulations for the protection of historical language minorities", which besides valuing the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Italian language also promotes twelve more languages and cultures present in the Italian territory. The new law, by contrast, only mentions four language minorities (the German, Ladin, French and Slovenian ones), and does not include any specific norm aiming to ensure the penetration of Italy’s minority language communities in the mass media.

Furthermore, we publish the recommendations issued by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages by the United Kingdom. The Committee recommends the establishment of a system for monitoring the measures taken with regard to the promotion of languages such as Scottish Gaelic and Welsh. Among other issues, the recommendations also include the production and publication of reports on the progress achieved concerning these languages, while they also call for the improvement of public service television provision and for the facilitation of the broadcasting of private radio in Irish.

Finally, this Bulletin reproduces a resolution issued by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), which urges the governments of States to pay specific attention to the negative impact of racism and related intolerance on the situation of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. The Commission on Human Rights also urges all States to promote and protect the rights of such persons and to take all the necessary constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and give effect to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, adopted in 1992, including the provision of equal access to education.

As regards Dossier no. 16, also included in the Bulletin, it is on the languages of French Guiana. We believe it is important to talk about such territories and their language communities, since although they are located beyond the European geographic borders they are also part of the European Union.