I.
INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND PRECEDENTS
1.
Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(UN 1994)
Article 14: "Indigenous
peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future
generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies,
writing systems and literatures, and to designate and retain their own names
for communities, places and persons.
States shall take effective
measures, whenever any right of indigenous peoples may be threatened, to
ensure this right is protected and also to ensure that they can understand
and be understood in political, legal and administrative proceedings, where
necessary through the provision of interpretation or by other appropriate
means."
Article 17: "Indigenous
peoples have the right to establish their own media in their own language.
They also have the right to equal access to all forms of non-indigenous
media.
States shall take effective
measures to ensure that State-owned media duly reflect indigenous cultural
diversity."
2.
C 169, Convention on Indigenous and Tribal People (ILO Convention
1989)
Article 12: "Measures shall
be taken to ensure that members of these peoples can understand and be
understood in legal proceedings, where necessary through the provision of
interpretation or by other effective means."
3.
American Convention on Human Rights (OAS 1969)
Article
8(2): “During the proceedings, every person [accused of a criminal
offense] is entitled, with full equality, .. (a): to...the right of the
accused to be assisted without charge by a translation or interpreter, if he
does not understand or does not speak the language of the tribunal or
court.”
4.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UN 1966)
Article 14(3) “In determination
of any criminal charge against him, everyone shall be entitled to the
following minimum guarantees, in full equality...(f) To have the free
assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language
used in court.”
5.
Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN 1989)
Article 7:
“The child...shall have the right from birth to a name.”
Article 17(d): “Encourage the
mass media to have particular regard to the linguistic needs of the child
who belongs to a minority group or who is indigenous.”
Article 17(a): “Encourage the
mass media to disseminate information and material of social and cultural
benefit to the child and in accordance with the spirit of article 29.”
Article 40(2)(b): “...ensuring
that: (vi) Every child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having
infringed the penal law...” has the right (vi) “To have the free
assistance of an interpreter if the child cannot understand or speak the
language.”
6.
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic
Religious or Linguistic Minorities (UN 1990)
Article 4(3): “States should
take appropriate measures so that, wherever possible, persons belonging to
minorities may have adequate opportunities to learn their mother tongue or
to have instruction in their mother tongue.”
7.
Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (UNESCO 1982)
Article
5(3): "The mass media and those who control or serve them, as well as
all organized groups within national communities, are urged-with due regard
to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
particularly the principle of freedom of expression-to promote
understanding, tolerance and friendship among individuals and groups and to
contribute to the eradication of racism, racial discrimination and racial
prejudice, in particular by refraining from presenting a stereotyped,
partial, unilateral or tendentious picture of individuals and of various
human groups. Communication between racial and ethnic groups must be a
reciprocal process, enabling them to express themselves and to be fully
heard without let or hindrance. The mass media should therefore be freely
receptive to ideas of individuals and groups which facilitate such
communication."
8.
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, "General
Recommendation XXIII (51) Concerning Indigenous Peoples" (August 1997)
(4): The Committee calls in
particular upon States parties to:
e. Ensure that
indigenous communities can exercise their rights to practice and revitalize
their cultural traditions and customs, to preserve and to practice their
languages."
9.
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul Charter 1981)
Article
9(2): “Every individual shall the right to express and disseminate his
opinion.”
10.
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms
Article 5 (2): “Everyone who is
arrested shall be informed promptly, in a language which he understands, of
the reasons for his arrest and of any charges against him.”
Article 6(3): “Everyone charged
with a criminal offence has the following minimum rights: (a) to be informed
promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail of the nature and
cause of the accusation against him; (e) to have the free assistance of an
interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court.”
11. European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, adopted by the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, opened for signature 2
October 1992
Article 7: Objectives and
Principles
Article 7(1): “The Parties
undertake, in respect of regional or minority languages, to base their
policies, legislation and practice on the following objectives and
principles: (a) the recognition of the existence of regional or minority
languages as an expression of cultural wealth; ...(c) the need for resolute
action to promote regional or minority languages in order to safeguard them;
(e) the facilitation and/or encouragement of the use of regional or minority
languages, in speech and writing, in public and private life (g) the
teaching and study of regional and minority languages at all appropriate
stages.”
Article 7(2):
“In determining their policy with regard to regional or minority
languages, the Parties shall take into consideration the needs and wishes
expressed by the groups which use such languages.”
Article 10: Judicial Authorities
and Legal Relations
Article 10(1)(a): In criminal
proceedings “to guarantee the accused the right to use his/her regional or
minority language; and/or...(iv) to produce, on request, documents connected
with legal proceedings in the relevant regional or minority language; if
necessary by the use of interpreters and translations involving no extra
expense for the persons concerned.”
Article 10(1)(b): In civil
proceedings, the same rights are provided including providing the option
that the “the courts and legal authorities, at the request of one of the
parties, shall use the regional or minority languages.”
Article 10(3): “the Parties
undertake to make available in the regional or minority languages the most
important national legal texts and those relating particularly to users of
these languages, unless they are otherwise provided.”
Article 12: Media
Article 12(1): With respect to
media, the Parties will undertake, to either “ensure”, “encourage”
or “facilitate” the creation or maintenance of a television, newspaper
or radio show in the "regional or minority languages", and
“where the law provides for financial assistance in general for the
media” the article provides for the coverage of "the additional costs
of those media which use regional or minority languages."
Article 13: Cultural Activities
and Facilities
1. “the Parties
undertake to the extent that the public authorities are competent, have
power or play a role in this field, to” “encourage”, “foster”,
“ensure”, and “promote” cultural activities, different types of
expression, access to works involving regional or minority languages.
“[I]f necessary create and/or promote and finance translations and
terminological research services.”
12.
Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action
of the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, Denmark, March 6-12,
1995)
Annex II:
Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development
Content.
Chapter IV. Social Integration
Para. B(73): "Eliminating
discrimination and promoting tolerance and mutual respect for and the value
of diversity at the national and international levels requires:
(i) Recognizing that the languages spoken or used in the world should
be respected and protected."
13. Declaration of Santiago (May 6, 1994) endorsed by the General
Conference (UNESCO 2o. session 1995)
-"We
declare that...3. Respect for pluralism, cultural, language and gender
diversity should be fundamental in our democratic societies and should be
reflected through all the media.
-The Plan of Action adopted by
the Seminar proposes the following measures: 1. "Promotion of community
media in rural, indigenous and marginal urban areas A. Taking into account
the increasing importance of community media in the democratic process in
the region, to request the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with the assistance of professional
organizations and research institutions, to survey the current situation of
community media concerning legislation, frequencies, power limitations and
advertising restrictions, with a view to making recommendations for the
consideration of the governments concerned.
B. To request the International Programme for the Development of
Communication (IPDC) of UNESCO and donor agencies to support projects for
the creation of new community media, both print and broadcast, and projects
aimed at strengthening existing community media in accordance with
international norms, especially those media serving women, youth, indigenous
populations and minorities. C.
To call upon professional organizations and the regional and national
representatives of international organizations involved in community
development issues, to encourage community media to exchange information
among themselves and with other media. In so doing, they will contribute to
the development of communication networks."
14.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Report on the Situation of
Human Rights in Ecuador (1997)
"A frequent complaint
concerns the treatment of indigenous inhabitants within the judicial system.
Indigenous representatives indicated that legal processes fail to respect or
take into account indigenous legal systems and traditions. Representatives
complained that processes against indigenous defendants were conducted in
Spanish, and that translation was not provided for those who understood only
their native language. Article 8 of the American Convention states that
"the right of an accused to be assisted without charge by a translator
or interpreter, if he does not understand or does not speak the language of
the tribunal" is a minimum guarantee. The Commission expects that the
recognition accorded to indigenous languages in their areas of use through
the recent amendments to the Constitution will ensure that translation
between Spanish and the indigenous language of the defendant is available in
every case where it is required."
II.
DOMESTIC AUTHORITIES AND PRECEDENTS
15. Brazil
Indian
Statute (Law No. 6.001 19-XII-1973)
Article 49: “The Indians shall
be taught to read and write in the language of the group to which they
belong, and in Portuguese, safeguarding the use of the former tongue.”
16.
Canada
-
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Article 22: "Nothing in
sections 16 to 20 [establishing French and English as the official languages
of Canada] abrogates or derogates from any legal or customary right or
privilege acquired or enjoyed either before or after the coming into force
of this Charter with respect to any language that is not English or
French."
- Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Volume
3 Recommendations
“Provincial and territorial
ministries require school boards serving Aboriginal students to implement a
comprehensive Aboriginal education strategy, developed with Aboriginal
parents, elders and educators, including e) curriculum, in all subject
areas, that includes the perspectives, traditions, beliefs and world view of
Aboriginal peoples;”
Vol. 3 Recommendations, 3.6.7
“The federal government, in
collaboration with Aboriginal people, review its legislation on the
protection of intellectual property to ensure that Aboriginal interests and
perspectives, in particular collective interests, are adequately
protected.”
3.6.8
“Federal, provincial and
territorial governments recognize promptly that determining Aboriginal
language status and use is a core power in Aboriginal self-government, and
that these governments affirm and support Aboriginal nations and their
communities in using and promoting their languages and declaring them
official languages within their nations, territories and communities where
they choose to do so.”
3.6.11
“The government of Canada
recognize the special status of Aboriginal-language broadcasting explicitly
in federal legislation.”
3.5.6
“Aboriginal language education
be assigned priority in Aboriginal, provincial and territorial education
systems to complement and support language preservation efforts in local
communities”.
17. Chile
Ley No. 19.253
Artículo 28: "El reconocimiento, respeto y
protección de las culturas e idiomas indígenas contemplará: a) El uso y
conservación de los idiomas indígenas, junto al español en las áreas de
alta densidad indígena; c) El fomento a la difusión en las radioemisoras y
canales de televisión de las regiones de alta presencia indígena de
programas en idioma indígena y apoyo a la creación de radioemisoras y
medios de comunicación indígenas; e) La obligatoriedad del Registro Civil
de anotar los nombres y apellidos de las personas indígenas en la forma
como lo expresen sus padres y con las normas de transcripción fonética que
ellos indiquen, y f) La promoción de las expresiones artísticas y
culturales y la protección del patrimonio arquitectónico, arqueológico,
cultural e histórico indígena. Para
el cumplimiento de lo señalado en el inciso anterior, la Corporación, en
coordinación con el Ministerio de Educación, promoverá planes y programas
de fomento de las culturas indígenas. Se deberá considerar convenios con
organismos públicos o privados de carácter nacional, regional o comunal,
que tengan objetivos coincidentes con los señalados en este artículo.
Asimismo deberá involucrarse para el cumplimiento de dichas
finalidades a los gobiernos regionales y municipalidades”.
18. Ecuador
- Constitución Política del Estado
Ecuatoriano
Artículo
1: “...La soberanía radica en el pueblo, cuya voluntad es la base de la
autoridad, que ejerce a través de los órganos del poder público y de los
medios democráticos previstos en esta Constitución. “
- Anteproyecto Ley de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador
Artículo
7: “ Se reconoce también como oficiales, la lengua quichua en todo el
territorio nacional y las demás lenguas indígenas en los territorios en
que están asentados los pueblos indígenas.
EI Estado garantizará los recursos y medios para la preservación de
desarrollo de las lengua, que podrán ser usadas de acuerdo a las
necesidades, en la educación, administración de justicia, seguridad
social, información pública, servicios y más actividades públicas.
Se garantizará el pleno derecho a utilizar nombres y apellidos en
las propias lenguas indígenas. EI Estado facilitará los respectivos trámites
de inscripción y de rectificación cuando estos fueran solicitadas”.
19.
El Salvador
Constitución de la República de El Salvador
Artículo 62:
El idioma oficial de El Salvador es el castellano. El gobierno está
obligado a velar por su conservación y enseñanza.
Las lenguas autóctonas que se hablan en el
territorio nacional forman parte del patrimonio cultural y serán objeto de
preservación, difusión y respeto.
20. United
States
- Native American Languages Act, 25 U.S.C. § 2901- 04
§ 2901: "It is the policy
of United States to - (1) preserve, protect, and promote the rights and
freedom for Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American
languages; (3) encourage and
support the use of Native American languages as a medium instruction in
order to encourage and support - (A) Native American language survival, (B)
educational opportunity, (C) increased student success and performance, (D)
increased student awareness and knowledge of their culture and history, and
(E) increased student and community pride."
§ 2904: "The right of the
Native American to express themselves through the use of Native American
languages shall not be restricted in any public proceeding, including
publicly supported educational programs."
21. Guatemala
- Constitución Política de la República de
Guatemala
Artículo
143: “Idioma Oficial. El idioma oficial de Guatemala es el español. Las
lenguas vernáculas forman parte del patrimonio cultural de la Nación.”
- Agreement on Identity
and Rights of Indigenous Peoples
III. A. Language
1. Language is one of
the mainstays of culture since, in particular, it is the vehicle for
learning and passing on the indigenous view of the world, and indigenous
knowledge and cultural values. Thus, all the languages spoken in Guatemala
deserve equal respect. In that context provision must be made to recover and
protect indigenous languages and to promote the development and use of those
languages.
2. To that end, the
Government shall take the following measures:
(a) Promote a constitutional
reform calling for the listing of all languages existing in Guatemala which
the State is constitutionally required to recognize, respect and promote;
(b) Promote the use of all
indigenous languages in the educational system, to enable children to read
and write in their own tongue or in the language most commonly spoken in the
community to which they belong and, in particular, protect bilingual and
intercultural education and institutions such as the Mayan Schools and other
indigenous educational projects;
(c) Promote the use of the
languages of the indigenous people when providing State social services at
the community level;
(d)
Inform indigenous communities, in their own languages in keeping with
the traditions of the indigenous peoples and by adequate means, of their
rights, obligations and opportunities in various areas of national life.
Recourse shall be had, if necessary, to written translations and the use of
mass communications media in the languages of those peoples;
(e) Promote programmes for the
training of bilingual judges and court interpreters from and into indigenous
languages;
(f) Enhance the status of
indigenous languages, opening up new opportunities for them in the mass
communications and cultural transmission media, strengthening such
organizations as the Academy of Mayan Languages and other similar
institutions; and
(g) Promote the granting of
official status to indigenous languages.
To that end an officialization commission will be set up with the
participation of representatives of the linguistic communities and the
Academy of Mayan Languages of Guatemala, which shall study arrangements for
granting official status, taking account of linguistic and territorial
criteria. The Government shall
promote, in the Guatemalan Congress, a reform of article 143 of the
Constitution to reflect the results of the officialization commission's
work.
B. Names, surnames and
place names
The Government reaffirms the full
right to register indigenous names, surnames and place names.
It also reaffirms the right of communities to change the names of
places in which they reside, when a majority of members so decide. The
Government shall take the measures provided for in part II, section A, of
this agreement to combat any de facto discrimination in the exercise of this
right.”
Article III. "H:Mass media
1. Like the educational
system, the communications media play a paramount role in the defence,
development and transmittal of cultural values and knowledge. It is the
responsibility not only of the Government but also of all those working in
and involved with the news media to promote respect for indigenous cultures,
the dissemination of such cultures, and the elimination of all forms of
discrimination, and to help all Guatemalans to take full possession of their
multicultural heritage.
2. For its part, in
order to promote the broadest possible access to the communications media by
the Maya communities and institutions and those of the other indigenous
peoples, the widest possible dissemination in indigenous languages of the
indigenous, and especially Mayan, cultural heritage, as well as of the
universal cultural heritage, the Government shall, in particular, take the
following measures:
(a) Create opportunities in the
official media for the dissemination of expressions of indigenous culture
and promote a similar opening in the private media;
(b) Promote, in the Guatemalan
Congress, the reforms of the existing Act on radio communications that are
required in order to make frequencies available for indigenous projects and
to ensure respect for the principle of non-discrimination in the use of the
communications media. Furthermore, promote the abolition of any provision in
the national legislation which is an obstacle to the right of indigenous
peoples to have their own communications media for the development of their
identity; and
(c) Regulate and support a
system of informational, scientific, artistic and educational programmes on
indigenous cultures in their languages, through the national radio,
television and the written media."
- Ley de la Academia de las Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala
(Decreto 65-90)
Artículo 1: "Creación. Se crea la Academia de
Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala, con una entidad estatal autónoma, con
personalidad jurídica y capacidad para adquirir derechos y contraer
obligaciones, patrimonio propio y jurisdicción administrativa en toda la
República en materia de su competencia.
La Academia coordinará sus acciones políticas, lingüísticas
y culturales de las comunidades mayas con los Ministerios, entidades autónomas
y descentralizadas del Estado y demás instituciones con ella relacionadas.
Artículo 2: "Fines. La Academia de Lenguas
Mayas de Guatemala, tiene por finalidad promover el conocimiento y difusión
de las lenguas mayas e investigar, planificar, programar y ejecutar
proyectos lingüísticos literarios, educativos, culturales y dar orientación
y servicio sobre la materia”.
Artículo 3: "Ámbito de la autonomía. La
Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala es la máxima autoridad rectora para
la promoción y desarrollo de las lenguas mayas en el país, y como tal podrá
darse sus propias autoridades, ejercer por medio de ellas la administración
de sus intereses, y emitir sus reglamentos, resoluciones, acuerdos y demás
disposiciones sobre la materia de su competencia”.
Artículo 4: "Objetivos. Son objetivos de la
Academia:
a)
Promover y realizar investigaciones científicas para estimular y
apoyar acciones dirigidas al desarrollo de las lenguas mayas del país,
dentro del marco integral de la cultura nacional.
b)
Planificar y ejecutar programas de desarrollo educativo y cultural
basados en los resultados de las investigaciones antropológicas, lingüísticas
e históricas que se realicen.
c)
Crear, implementar e incentivar programas de publicaciones bilingües
y monoligües para promover el conocimiento y uso de los idiomas mayas y
para fortalecer los valores culturales Guatemaltecos.
d)
Normalizar el uso y aplicación de los idiomas mayas de Guatemala en
todos sus campos.
e)
Velar por el reconocimiento, respeto y promoción de las lenguas
mayas y demás valores culturales gualtemaltecos.
f)
Prestar asesoría técnica y científica al Gobierno e instituciones
en las ramas de su competencia."
Artículo 5: "Atribuciones: La Academia tendrá
a su cargo:
a)
Fomentar investigaciones científicas, históricas y culturales con
el propósito de conocer, fortalecer y divulgar al identidad de cada
comunidad lingüística.
b)
Estudiar y proponer procedimientos y estrategias que favorezcan y
fortalezcan el uso, promoción, oficialización y unificación de cada uno
de los idiomas mayas.
c)
Crear y promover centros de enseñanza de los idiomas mayas en las
comunidades lingüísticas y promover la enseñanza de tales idiomas en los
demás centros educativos de la República.
d)
Traducir y publicar, previo cumplimiento de las leyes de la materia,
códigos, leyes, reglamentos y otros textos legales o de cualquier otra
naturaleza que se juzgue necesario a los idiomas mayas.
e)
Apoyar plenamente la educación bilingüe aditiva que realiza el
Estado en cumplimiento de sus funciones.
f)
Aprovechar las invetigaciones científicas sobre lenguas mayas, para
su depuración, unificación y elaboración de gramáticas, diccionarios,
libros de texto y métodos para su enseñanza y difusión.
g)
Formar y capacitar personal técnico de las comunidades lingüísticas
para las tareas de investigación y enseñanza de idiomas mayas.
h)
Establecer, promover y mantener centros de información, documentación,
bibliotecas y otros de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las lenguas y cultura maya
y coordinar programas de trabajo, con las universidades del país e
instituciones especializadas en lingüística y ciencias sociales vinculadas
a la materia.
i)
Rescatar los idiomas mayas enproceso de extinción
j)
Las demás que sean inherentes a su naturaleza”.
- Ley de Alfabetización (Decreto 43-86)
Artículo 5. "Aspectos relevantes que contiene
el proyecto de la nueva ley de alfabetización. Con base en lo anterior y
para poder cumplir con los propósitos de esta nueva acción de alfabetización,
se ha elaborado el presente proyecto de ley que someto a la consideración y
aprobación del Organismo Legislativo y cuyos aspectos sustantivos son los
siguientes: (c) La
responsabilidad compartida que tienen los diferentes sectores de la sociedad
en el proceso de alfabetización nacional.
(d) La obligación que tiene el Ministro de Educación de ejecutar
los programas que conduzcan a resolver los problemas de baja cobertura
poblacional y deficiente calidad del sistema educativo. (e) La configuración
en una estructura específica, tanto a nivel nacional como local, de la
organización que tenga la responsabilidad de conducir a la alfabetización
nacional, siguiendo los lineamientos que traza el artículo 75 de la
Constitución Política de la república”.
22. Nicaragua
Constitución de Nicaragua
Article
11: “Spanish is the official language of the state. The languages of the Communities of the Atlantic Coast shall
also have official use in the cases established by law.”
Article
180: “Furthermore, it [the state] guarantees the preservation of their
culture, languages, religion, and customs.”
23. Panama
- Regimen Especial de la Comarca Kuna Yala (Ley 2 de
1938 -modificada por la Ley 99/98)
Artículo 9: "Se entiende por cultura Kuna,
sistema integrado y coherente de los valores, instituciones, historia,
religión, lengua, costumbres y tradiciones que constituyen el fundamento
identidad del pueblo Kuna, y que se manifiesta a través de la filosofía, el arte y sistema socio político.
Son creados y desarrollados por el hombre kuna a través de siglos y que
forman parte de la cultura nacional y la enriquecen."
Artículo 40: "El Estado guarantiza el uso de
nombres, apellidos en lenguas propias indígenas, para el cual facilitará
los trámites correspondientes de inscripción, rectificación y cambios de
nombres apellidos cuando soliciten los interesados en el Registro Civil”.
- Constitución Política de la República de Panamá
Artículo
84: “Las lenguas aborígenes serán objeto de especial estudio, conservación
y divulgación y el Estado promoverá programas de alfabetización bilingüe
en las comunidades indígenas”.
24. Paraguay
Constitución Nacional de Paraguay
Artículo
140: “De los idiomas. El Paraguay es un país pluricultural y bilingüe.
Son idiomas oficiales el castellano y el guaraní.
La ley establecerá las modalidades de utilización de uno y otro.
Las lenguas indígenas, así como las de otras minorías,
forman parte del patrimonio cultural de la Nación. “
25. Perú
- Constitución Política del Perú
Artículo
48: “Son idiomas oficiales el castellano y, en las zonas donde predominen,
también lo son el quechua, el aimará y las demás lenguas aborígenes, según
la ley”.
Artículo 2(19): “Toda peruano tiene el derecho a
usar su propio idioma ante cualquier autoridad mediante un intérprete”.
- Resolución Ministerial No. 1218-85-ED
Artículo 1(1): “Oficializar el alfabeto quechua y
aimara, así como las normas ortografía y puntuación para la escritura
quechua y aimara”.
26. Venezuela
Constitución Política de la República de
Venezuela Artículo 9: “El idioma oficial es el castellano. Los idiomas indígenas también son de uso oficial para los pueblos indígenas y deben ser respetados en todo el territorio de la República, por constituir patrimonio cultural de la Nación y de la humanidad”.
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