OSCE, UN and international experts to debate language policy and conflict prevention at high-level event in Oslo
THE HAGUE, 2 May 2018 – Internationally renowned experts, ministers, OSCE and UN representatives will gather on 31 May in Oslo, Norway, to debate the tools developed and promoted by the OSCE and its partner organizations on language policy as a means of conflict prevention.
Organized by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) in co-operation with NORDEM and the University of Oslo, and funded by the Norwegian government, the event “Language Policy and Conflict Prevention: Revisiting the Oslo Recommendations regarding the Linguistic Rights of National Minorities” will mark the 20th anniversary of the HCNM’s Oslo Recommendations.
The event will feature high-ranking speakers including UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes, former HCNM and former Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek, Chair of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Vesna Crnić-Grotić, Minister of Education, Culture and Research of Moldova Monica Babuc, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Alexander Tevzadze and the University of Oslo’s Professor Emeritus Asbjørn Eide.
“A carefully formulated language policy is also a conflict prevention policy. The discussions in Oslo will strengthen the proposition that language policy is a core instrument of States in ensuring cohesive, stable societies, which respect the rights of all,” said OSCE High Commissioner Lamberto Zannier. “I encourage everyone to engage in the discussions, including by speaking from the floor.”
In the run-up to the event, Brill publishing house has released an edited volume of “Language Policy and Conflict Prevention” with a foreword by Zannier. The volume, which reviews the work of the HCNM and draws upon the expertise of other international organizations, will be officially launched at the event in Oslo.
Representatives of the OSCE participating States and executive structures, civil society, experts and policy-makers, students and youth, media and journalists and all other interested parties are invited to attend the event. Participation is free of charge. Please register through this online form by 18 May 2018. The full programme is available here.