March 2006

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MERCATOR LEGISLATION SUPPORTS A NEW WELSH LANGUAGE ACT

March 2006 - Mercator Legislation participated the 24th and 25th March in a the General Annual Meeting of the Welsh group of pressure Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Aberystwyth.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg is campaigning for a New Welsh Language Act for Wales, a measure that would give Welsh official status and secure basic language rights for the people of Wales. This call has moved to the centre of the political agenda due to the Assembly Government's intention to abolish the Welsh Language Board.

The importance of legislation in revitalizing a minority language was underlined at the annual general meeting of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Aberystwyth in March 25th. Guest speaker Alexia Bos Sole from Mercator Legislation in Barcelona led a session entitled Language Legislation Making a Difference, The Catalan Experience.

Mercator Legislation spoke about the importance of concepts such as official status and language rights, concepts that have proved a basis for language policy and legislation for over two decades. MOreover, Mercator Legislation noted that securing strong status and rights are essential in order to facilitate wider use of a minority language.

Such arguments provided further support for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg's ongoing and growing campaign for a Welsh Language Act.

Along with discussing matters related to the need for a New Welsh Language Act, the annual meeting also heard from Cymdeithas yr Iaith's other campaigns in other fields such as education, housing and planning.