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T +33(0)388412560 www.coe.int [email protected] |
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Ref. DC 024(2017) 01.03.2017 National minorities: Council of Europe calls on the Republic of Moldova to promote an inclusive civic identity and minority languages In an Opinion published today, the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities calls on the Republic of Moldova to put a long-term strategy in place to promote a civic identity that is inclusive and firmly based on respect for ethnic and linguistic diversity. The Committee acknowledges that the Moldovan authorities have shown their commitment to the protection of the rights of people belonging to national minorities. In 2012 comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation was adopted and in 2013 an equality body was established. However, stigmatisation and stereotyping remain widespread in society and, as a consequence, discrimination against Roma and other minorities persists. The authorities have made efforts to enhance minorities’ proficiency of the state language. However, language barriers persist, in particular for older generations, contributing to a division of society along ethnic and linguistic lines. The Opinion contains a number of recommendations, including: · Promote the use of minority languages, in particular those spoken by numerically smaller groups, in official communications, topography and the media. · Provide persons belonging to national minorities with effective access to full proficiency in the state language, whilst enhancing access to quality teaching and learning of and in all minority languages through bilingual and trilingual education models. · Guarantee that persons belonging to national minorities participate in all decision-making processes including with respect to the public administration reform. · Ensure that personal names are officially recognized in the minority languages, including in identity documents. The Opinion was published together with the Moldovan authorities’ comments. *** The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities provides for a monitoring system whereby the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, assisted by the Advisory Committee, composed of independent experts, evaluates the implementation of the convention. Contact: Jaime Rodriguez, Spokesperson/Media officer, Tel. +33 3 90 21 47 04 |
