Committee of Experts Visit Belfast

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is today hosting the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The Committee is in Belfast for its fourth ‘on the spot visit’ to take evidence on the UK’s compliance with the languages Charter. It forms part of the Committees on-going UK wide visit.
NIHRC Chief Commissioner’ Professor Michael O’Flaherty’ said:
‘The Commission took the opportunity to update the Committee of Experts on the lack of progress since their last monitoring visit. We outlined to members the current levels of provision for Irish Language and Ulster Scots. We raised issues around the gaps in legislation’ education needs and the responsibility of the devolved administration to promote and develop minority language protections in Northern Ireland.’
ENDS
Further information:
For further information please contact Claire Martin on: (028) 9024 3987 .
Notes to editors
1. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body first proposed in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement (1998) and established in 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act (1998). It is answerable to Parliament at Westminster.
2. Find out more about the Council of Europe here.
3. ‘The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages provides a monitoring mechanism to evaluate how the Charter is applied in a State Party with a view to’ where necessary’ making recommendations for improvements in its legislation’ policy and practice. The central element of the monitoring mechanism is a Committee of independent experts’ established in accordance with Article 17 of the Charter’.
4. State Parties must submit a periodical report every three years’ explaining their policies and the action they have taken to fulfil the commitments they have undertaken. The UK’s fourth State report is to be submitted to COMEX in May 2013.