Indigenous languages and Minority languages in the Nordic countries
Indigenous languages and minority languages in the Nordic countries
Not long before the TLRC annual meeting in Lapland, Finland, I (Danish PEN) made an agreement with Swedish PEN to create a Nordic PEN language network. The Swedes are worried about the status of the indigenous languages and minority languges in Sweden in the present political atmosphere.
After the TLRC annual meeting we invited Finnish PEN to join the network, and they agreed. But how about Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Technicalle the Faroe Islands and Greeland are part of the Danish Kingdom, but that is not the point here. Of course they shall be represented in the network also.
Nordic Language Declaration
Shortly before the TLRC annual meeting in Finland, a a revised version of the Nordic Language Declaration was published. I am not really sure who took this initiative, but ministers from the Nordic coutnries mus have approved it. The Declaration makes reference to "important languages", minority languages, etc. Read the Declaration here/.
Greenland is Denmark - Greenland in Denmark
So I take contact to Nauja Lynge, a Greenlandic lady living in Denmark. I tell here about the Nordic PEN language network, if it has any interest. She writes me back (in brief):
"I myself work for the Greelandic minority (as a grassroot) in Denmark, and the Greenlandic Homerule is going to ask the Greenlandic minority in Denmark, if the Greenlanders in Denmark want to obtain status as a national minority in Denmark!
Unfortunately I speak a poor Greenlandic, because we were not allowed to speak Greenlandic in school".
Nauja informs that about 55,000 Greenlanders live in Greenland, and maybe 20,000 Greenlanders in Denmark. Nauja expects that more Greenlanders will drift towards Denmark for socio-economic reasons, and that Greeland eventually will drift towards independence.
Many Greenlanders in Denmark don't speak good Greenlandic, and this situation does harm to their language, their culture and their identity. They don't have any different right from the Danish majority population, because they are not recognized as a national minority (like e.g. EU-migrants have the right to be taught their mother tongue).
"One problem is that we don't have any rights down here, where one third of Greenlands population lives. In some ways we are worse off than migrants. It would be great if we could join you both as a group that has the language and another group has has not. In Greenland they have home rule and work towards independence. The Greenlandic members of the Danish Parliament sometimes work for us, sometimes they don't. I will send you some articles".
Invitation from the Home Rule in Greenland to cecognize Greelanders in Denmark as a national minority (you may Google Translate it, or I can translate it later:
Oordringen til den danske regering er et banebrydende beslutningsforslag med henblik på at sikre anerkendelse af Grønlændere i Danmark som et mindretal. Beslutningen opfordrer Naalakkersuisut til at kontakte den danske regering og arbejde for anerkendelse i henhold til Europarådets Rammekonvention for Nationale Mindretal (FCNM) og DEN Europæiske Pagt om Regionale Sprog eller Mindretalssprog (Sprogpagten). Beslutningsforslaget, der er blevet enstemmigt støttet af udvalget foreslår, at Naalakkersuisut pålægges at indlede dialog med de danske rigsmyndigheder for at undersøge, om der blandt Grønlændere i Danmark er et ønske om officiel anerkendelse som et mindretal. Formålet med denne anerkendelse er at styrke beskyttelsen af Grønlænderes kultur, sprog, retssikkerhed og andre vitale elementer i oerensstemmelse med de internationale konventioner. Afgørende rettigheder Det er afgørende at sikre, at Grønlændere i Danmark får den retmæssige anerkendelse som et mindretal. Dette skridt er ikke kun en støtte til at bevare Grønlands kulturelle arv, men det er også et skridt mod at styrke fællesskabet mellem Grønland og Danmark. Samt at mindske mulige uoverensstemmelser som Europarådet samt OSCE af flere omgange har adresseret overfor den Danske regering.
Article in the Danish newspaper Information. Greelanders in Denmark should be recognized, here/
Grønlændere i Danmark skal anerkendes som et nationalt mindretal
https://www.information.dk/debat/2023/08/groenlaendere-danmark-anerkendes-ntionalt-mindretal
Artcle: Human rights: New national minority group in Denmark
https://menneskeret.dk/nyheder/danmark-nyt-nationalt-mindretal
Skal Danmark have et nyt nationalt mindretal?
Nauja gives me references to other persons, also from the Faroe Islands. I will contact them later
So I turn to:
Sandra VELOY MATEU Division of National Minorities and Minority Languages Department of Anti-Discrimination Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity Council of Europe - Conseil de l'Europe www.coe.int/minorities +33 (0)3 90 21 63 53
The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is one of the most comprehensive treaties designed to protect the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/minorities/home
I communicate with Sandra:
"I know Sandra,
I simply want to collect as much background
information that I can before turning to the Greenlanders themselves. I ask you
this question because you write:
https://www.facebook.com/jorgen.c.nielsen.9
Fra: VELOY-MATEU Sandra <Sandra.VELOY-MATEU@coe.int>
Sendt: 2. juli 2024 10:34
Til: wind.nielsen@webspeed.dk
Cc: wind.kommunikation@webspeed.dk
Emne: RE: 6th Opinion of the Advisory Committee for the Framework
Convention on the Protection of National Minorities on Denmark - adopted and
published
Dear Jørgen,
I am not sure I understand
your question. Representing them where? Please note that we are a monitoring
body and these are internal affairs of states where we do not intervene or play
an active role.
This is the policy of the Danish Government, maybe this is one reason for the revised Nordic Language Declaration:
The Danish authorities
consider that the Greenlanders are not a “national minority” in the sense of
the Framework Convention, but the Advisory Committee considers that at least
Article 6 includes all minority groups, officially recognised or not. For that
reason, you will see that on this Opinion, the Advisory Committee dedicates a
section under Article 6 to the situation of Greenlanders in Denmark and issues
some recommendations. As we know, the Inatsisaartut/Greenlandic Parliament
asked the Greenlandic government to request the Danish authorities to seek
whether Greenlanders in Denmark would like to be recognised as a national
minority under the FCNM, but so far this has not yet taken place.
I hope this helps. Best, Sandra
---------- Forwarded message ---------
Fra: VELOY-MATEU Sandra <Sandra.VELOY-MATEU@coe.int>
Date: fre. 21. jun. 2024 kl. 14.29
Subject: 6th Opinion of the Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention on
the Protection of National Minorities on Denmark - adopted and published
To:
Dear all,
I would
like to inform you that the 6th Opinion of the Advisory Committee
for the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities has been
now published. You will find it available on our website, alongside the
comments from the Danish authorities and a summary in Danish (link)
https://www.coe.int/en/web/minorities/-/denmark-publication-of-the-6th-advisory-committee-opinion
I would
like to thank you all once more for your contribution and I remain at your
disposal for any clarifications you may have.
It was a
pleasure to discuss with you and to have your valuable input.
Kind
regards,
|
|
Sandra VELOY MATEU Directorate of Equal Rights and Dignity |
andra offers to have a public meeting, but this should be organized by competent institutions:
Sendt: 2. juli 2024 12:15
Til: wind.nielsen@webspeed.dk
Cc: wind.kommunikation@webspeed.dk
E*mne: RE: 6th Opinion of the Advisory Committee for the Framework
Convention on the Protection of National Minorities on Denmark - adopted and
published
I se. Well, as far as I
was informally told, the idea would be to consult with the official
organisations, which would include the Greenlanders houses in the different
cities, the Organisation Inuit… But as you say, it is not clear and it would be
interesting, as there are different views and diverting interests even on the
side of the Greenlanders. The 2 Greenlandic MPs also represent different points
of view, so they could play a role (whether good or bad, that remains to be
seen).
On our side, we would be
happy to come to Denmark for awareness-raising sessions on the convention, but
this would have to be organised from the ground, for example, by the Danish
authorities, or by the DIHR.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance. Best, Sandra
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/making-indigenous-languages-literature-visible-wind-nielsen-0dhrf/
News of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Denmark: publication of the 6th Advisory Committee Opinion
PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES
Dok. nr. 133572 - GVT/COM/VI(2024)001
Comments of the Government of Denmark on the Sixth Opinion of the Advisory
Committee on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by Denmark received on 7 June 2024
COMMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK ON THE SIXTH
OPINION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES BY DENMARK
General comments
The Danish Authorities would like to reiterate its position – mentioned in both previous and the latest Danish state report – with respect to the scope of the Framework Convention. The international obligations that Denmark has assumed according to the Framework Convention relates only to the German national minority in South Jutland. The Danish Government will continuously work towards ensuring that the German Minority has the opportunity to raise any issues that the minority wants to discuss, and that the obligations towards the German minority is fulfilled.
It is the opinion of the Danish Government that the distinctive mark of a national minority is that it is a minority population group, which above all has historical, long-term and lasting links to the country in question – in contrast to refugee- and immigrant groups in general. Therefore, Denmark has identified the German minority in South Jutland as a national minority covered by the Framework Convention.
the rights of the individual and safeguard against discrimination.
Finally, the Danish authorities would like to express its appreciation for the valuable cooperation with the Advisory Committee and the efficient and constructive meeting in June 2023.
Specific comments
This report contains the Danish authorities’ comments on the draft 6th opinion on Denmark prepared by the Advisory Committee as adopted on 7 February by the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
Danish authorities wishes to address paragraphs from the Opinion on an article-by-article basis. All relevant ministries, authorities and municipalities were heard in this process.
(Article 5): Preservation and promotion of minority culture and language
(Article 6): Promotion of mutual respect and understanding
Para 54: Aabenraa Municipality would like its integration efforts for German newcomers to be included. Among other things, the municipality works with guidance service for (potential) newcomers, holds welcome meetings, and makes guidance offers available via partners such as Regionskontor & Infocenter and Infocenter or Business Aabenraa.
Para 55: The Ministry of Immigration and Integration notes that issues such as radicalization and honour-related conflicts are not issues supposedly associated with migration, but issues that have real-life negative impacts for some individuals, not least for vulnerable groups within migrant communities.
Para 56-57: The Ministry of Immigration and Integration notes that the MENAPT-category was introduced by the Ministry in 2020 in order to monitor the status and development of the integration of immigrants and their descendants. The MENAPT-group has a specific focus since this group of immigrants has played an important role in Denmark’s immigration history. The classification is not used to make assumptions about the religious affiliation of its subjects.
Para 58: The Ministry of Children and Education would like to have included the exact description of the children that must attend a 25 hour per week of a mandatory learning programme in para 58: “Children who are not enrolled in an ECEC-centre at the age of 12 months. Parents who do not want their child to be enrolled in a mandatory learning programme can chose to facilitate the learning programme themselves. The parents' efforts must be commensurate
with the mandatory learning programme. A learning programme that is commensurate with the mandatory learning programme consists, among other things, of ensuring that the child's Danish language is developed and that the child's broad understanding of learning is supported through activities in everyday life.” “The mandatory learning program is part of a number of Danish policies that were presented in 2018 as part of a national action plan combating parallel societies”
Para 61-62: The Ministry of Immigration and Integration notes that the Danish authorities disagree that the Danish integration policies generally lack a basis of intercultural dialogue and mutual respect.
(Article 6): The situation of Greenlanders
Para 75: The Ministry of Children and Education would like to underline that from the school year 2023/2024, it is mandatory to teach about the Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands) for primary schools and lower secondary schools in Denmark. This emphasizes the joint history between the three countries. Making the history of the Kingdom of Denmark a mandatory part of primary and lower secondary education will give all students knowledge and understanding of the whole Kingdom of Denmark. Increased knowledge and understanding is a good way to prevent prejudices. This should be reflected in the paragraph.
(Article 6): Situation of Roma
Para 78 and 82: The Ministry of Immigration and Integration notes that the EU's strategic framework for the Roma suggests a differentiated approach in the Member States based on national circumstances. Denmark does not have and does not consider it productive to have integration policies specifically aimed at specific ethnic groups, hence neither the Roma population. Rather the group has – on equal footing with everyone legally residing in the country – access to the universal welfare state’s services (childcare, education, health care, employment effort, integration policies etc.) largely funded by the general taxation.
In addition, Denmark’s emphasis on abiding by general principles of equal treatment ensures recognition of political, civil, social etc. rights of the Roma population.
These principles are the bedrock of Denmark’s approach to Roma inclusion and thus reaffirmed in Denmark’s national strategy applying the EU strategic Framework for equality, inclusion and participation for 2020-30.
Para 79, 80 and 82: The Ministry of Immigration and Integration notes that Danish authorities do not register ethnicity and are consequently unable to collect and quantify data disaggregated on ethnic groups. Any target for education level, employment rate and health - as well as its monitoring mechanisms - in Denmark - apply to Roma as well as to everyone else. In line with the above-mentioned principles, Denmark does not have government-funded initiatives that aim specifically at strengthening the Roma civil society. However, there is a number of NGO’s that work with integration and inclusion of refugees and ethnic
minorities that are financially supported by the Danish Finance Act and the relevant Danish authorities are in close dialogue with these NGO’s.
(Article 6): Combating hate crime and hate speech
Para 91: The Ministry of Justice would like to point out that the text in paragraph 91 is not correct. Suggestion for text amendment (new text in red):
“Data gathered by the Ministry of Justice’s victimisation survey for 2020-2021 estimates that around 20-31 000 people between the ages of 16-74 experience hate-motivated violence, vandalism and/or hate speech online every year. Although information on hatemotivated violence has been collected since 2008, in 2020, changes in data collection were introduced to record also for victims of vandalism whether they believe the crime was motivated by hatred on the grounds of racism, sexual orientation, gender identity or religious beliefs. Religion was also included as a potential ground for hate violence. Lastly, online hate speech began to be recorded as a separate crime. Data for 2020-2021 shows
that racism was the most common ground for hate-motivated vandalism and online hate speech, whereas the most common ground for violence motivated by hatred and online hate speech was religion. Although these changes render data from previous years not fully comparable, the Advisory Committee welcomes this development as it contributes to a more accurate picture of the situation.”
Para 92: The Ministry of Justice would like to point out that the text in paragraph 92 is neither correct nor reflecting the latest annual report on hate crimes.
Suggestion for text amendment (new text in red): “The Danish National Police has gathered data on registered hate crimes since 2015. The data is compiled in an annual report on police-recorded hate crimes. The Danish National Police registers cases of hate crime through its case management system (POLSAS) and following the Director of Public Prosecutor’s guidelines on hate crimes.7In 20221, the Police recorded 487521 potential hate crime73 cases, 300254 of which were racially motivated, followed by 101164 crimes committed on religious grounds (3793 cases of which related to Judaism and 5063 to Islam). 340306 of these hate crimes were registered as criminal offences with an increase of violent offences with a hate motive by 1763% to 82
cases from 70 cases the previous year.
where the nature of the offense is not definitively clarified.”
Footnote 73) The 487 cases denote the total number of cases that the Danish National Police have identified as potential cases of hate crime in the review for the annual report on hate crimes for 2022.”
Footnote 74) Danish National Police (2023), Hadforbrydelser i 2022. Rigspolitiets årlige rapport om hadforbrydelser I forbrydelser (Hate Crimes in 2022. The Danish National Police’s annual report on hate crimes), p. 3 and 16.”
Para 93: The Ministry of Justice suggests that reference to the Danish National Police’s annual report on hate crimes be deleted as the current sentence is misleading. The total number (487 in 2022) reflects the total number of cases that the Danish National Police have identified as potential cases of hate crime in a subsequent review. As such, they do not necessarily correlate with actual reports of hate crimes, cf. the suggested text amendments to para 92.
Suggestion for text amendment (new text in red):
“All cases on hate speech (section 266 b of the Danish criminal code) are registered in the case management system (POLSAS), and since September 2020, The Prosecution Service also gathers statistical data on judgements in which the court has increased the sentence according to section 81, para. 6 of the Danish Criminal Code because the crimes were motivated by hatred towards a certain group of people.
2023, the Prosecution Service introduced a temporary reporting scheme, whereby Police Districts must refer all judgments regarding section 81, para. 6 to the State Prosecutors for considerations regarding appeal.”
(Article 17 & 18): Cross-border and bilateral co-operation
143 is currently neither reflecting the Danish Police’s co-operation with German law enforcement authorities nor the intentions of the Danish authorities.
Suggestion for text amendment (new text in red): “However, representatives of the German minority expressed strong criticism of the controls at the border with Germany, which were introduced temporarily in 2016 as an exception to the Schengen regime and have been continuously extended every six months.
As of May 2023, border controls were eased, leading to a better circulation of traffic, but Denmark has not returned to free movement as foreseen under the Schengen rules.
In a joint resolution of September 2022, members of Dialog Forum Norden stated that cross-border co-operation of persons belonging to national minorities on both sides of the border suffers from the situation and pleaded for a return to the Schengen-compliant regime before 2016. The Danish Police maintains a close co-operation with German law enforcement authorities in order to secure that the temporary border control is carried out in a manner with the least negative impact on persons crossing the border for legitimate reasons.
as possible for cross-border commuters. As of May 2023, border controls were eased, leading to a better circulation of traffic, but Denmark has not returned to free movement as foreseen under the Schengen rules.”
https://rm.coe.int/6th-op-denmark-summary-dk/1680b05cf1
****************************
Hau idatzi du Harald Gaski (harald.gaski@gmail.com) erabiltzaileak (2024 eka. 7(a), or. (03:30)):
Thank you, Urtzi, for sketching out the draft proposal.
I think the four points are sufficient to start with, but they probably need a a few more lines arguing for why the suggestions are important.
I would add for point 1 and 2, that is is the obligation of the national education authorities to provide information for the majority students about the Indigenous people of their respectice lands, at the same time as they provide sufficient funding for the Sámi Parliaments in Finland, Sweden, and Norway to be able to deliver good and updated learning material for the Sámi students.
For point 3 and 4 we could add that although it is praiseworthy that the Nordic countries provides translation funding from Sámi to the Nordic languages, Sámi literature as part of the global Indigenous world also needs to reach further out into the world. In order for international publishing houses to become aware of the qualities of Sámi literature it needs to be recognized internationally. For that purpose we need more translations into the world languages so the readers may familiarize themselves with Sámi literature. Therefore there needs to be possibilities for translations which are initialized from the Sámi writers and publishing houses with the aim to create an increased awareness of and interest for Sámi literature.
It definitely was good to meet again, and – like you say – I think this is a good opportunity for great continued collaboration.
Grønlændere i Danmark skal anerkendes som et nationalt mindretal
Grønlændere har samme rettigheder i Danmark som alle andre danske statsborgere, men oplever stadig svære sproglige og sociale udfordringer. Derfor skal de anerkendes som nationalt mindretal
Skrevet af:
Forfatter og foredragsholder
DEBAT
2. august 2023
Dette er et debatindlæg. Indlægget er udtryk for skribentens egen holdning.
Alle partier i Grønland var enige om at sende Kuno Fenckers forslag om, at grønlændere i Danmark skal spørges, om de ønsker at blive et nationalt mindretal, til udvalgsarbejde under denne forårssamling. Det er jeg meget glad for. For i snart ti år har jeg talt for anerkendelse af grønlændere i Danmark som nationalt mindretal.
Grønlændere har samme rettigheder i Danmark som alle andre danske statsborgere. Men grønlændere oplever stadig særlige sproglige, kulturelle og sociale udfordringer i det danske samfund på linje med borgere med etnisk minoritetsbaggrund. Derfor er der en lang række udfordringer i forhold til at nyde lige muligheder.
Det kan dog imødekommes ved at anerkende grønlændere i Danmark som et nationalt mindretal.
Ligebehandling af grønlændere handler blandt andet om tolkebistand, tilknytning til arbejdsmarkedet, læringsmål og en stærkere organisering og hermed repræsentation af grønlændere bosat i Danmark. Det er en enestående mulighed for at få etnicitet, sprog og kultur med i et hverdagsliv.
I Danmark er det tyske mindretal i Sønderjylland som den eneste befolkningsgruppe anerkendt som et nationalt mindretal efter Europarådets rammekonvention. Konventionen sikrer blandt andet en forpligtelse til at fremme betingelserne for nationale mindretals vedligeholdelse og udvikling af deres kultur og identitet, især i forhold til eget sprog, religion, traditioner og kulturel arv. Den komité, som overvåger gennemførelsen af konventionen, har anbefalet, at myndighederne nærmere undersøger, om grønlændere i Danmark ønsker at blive anerkendt som et nationalt mindretal.
Europarådets rammekonvention har ud over at respektere mindretallets identitet imidlertid også fokus på, at medlemsstaterne skal bidrage til at skabe passende forhold for, at personer tilhørende mindretal kan udtrykke, bevare og udvikle deres identitet. Herunder skal staterne fremme tolerance, respekt og forståelse mellem mennesker.
Det danske fokus på grønlænderes rettigheder som folk er tæt knyttet til indførelsen af selvstyreordningen i Grønland og dermed til forholdene for grønlændere i Grønland. I lyset af Grønlands ønsker om selvstændighed er der derfor et stort behov for at sikre de tusinder af grønlændere i Danmark bedre vilkår.
Nauja Lynge er forfatter og foredragsholder
LÆS OGSÅ
Selvfølgelig skal alle rigsfællesskabets sprog kunne tales og tolkes i Folketinget
LÆS OGSÅ
Danmark og Grønland er ikke kun en historie, det er også en smertefuld erindring
LÆS OGSÅ
Efter FN-kritik af Danmark: Grønlands ’usynlige spøgelser’ skal ind fra kulden
Skal Danmark have et nyt nationalt mindretal?
21. januar 2015
Europarådet opfordrer Danmark til at undersøge, om grønlændere i Danmark bør gøres til nationalt mindretal. Institut for Menneskerettigheder er enig.
Læs siden højt
I en ny rapport anbefaler Europarådets rådgivende komité til beskyttelse af nationale mindretal, at Danmark undersøger, om der er behov for at udpege grønlændere i Danmarktil et nationalt mindretal efter Europarådets rammekonvention om beskyttelse af nationale mindretal. Det er Institut for Menneskerettigheder enig i.
Om få måneder udgiver Institut for Menneskerettigheder en rapport, som undersøger, i hvilket omfang grønlændere udsættes for diskrimination i Danmark. En af anbefalingerne i rapporten er, at det bør undersøges, om grønlændere i Danmark skal gøres til et nationalt mindretal.
”Det er vigtigt, at denne undersøgelse foregår i en tæt dialog med grønlænderne i Danmark og selvstyret i Grønland. Kun på den måde kan vi finde ud af, om det er i de herboende grønlænderes interesse at blive et nationalt mindretal,” siger Maria Ventegodt Liisberg, ligebehandlingschef i Institut for Menneskerettigheder.
Kun sønderjyske tyskere er nationalt mindretal
Anerkendelse som ’nationalt mindretal’ er en særlig anerkendelse af en gruppes ret til at bevare deres sproglige og kulturelle særegenheder. Rammekonventionen definerer ikke, hvornår man skal anerkende en gruppe som et nationalt mindretal. Men den kræver, at staterne bruger objektive og saglige kriterier, når de ophøjer en gruppe til at være et nationalt mindretal.
I Danmark er kun det tyske mindretal i Sønderjylland anerkendt som nationalt mindretal. Grønlændere i Danmark kunne også ophøjes til nationalt mindretal på grund af deres særlige historiske tilhørsforhold til Danmark i kraft af rigsfællesskabet mellem Danmark og Grønland. Det samme gælder færinger i Danmark.
Politikerne afgør betydning
”Det er op til politikerne at beslutte, hvad en anerkendelse helt konkret skal medføre. Typisk vil en anerkendelse betyde mere støtte til bevarelse af mindretallets sprog og kulturelle traditioner, støtte til organisering og i nogle tilfælde også tiltag til at fremme mere viden om mindretallet i resten af befolkningen,” fortæller Maria Ventegodt Liisberg.
Uanset om grønlændere i Danmark bliver anerkendt som et nationalt mindretal i Danmark, er de omfattet af den almindeligt gældende
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