European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages - A word from the Chair of the Committee of Experts

The Charter’s objective is to make the use of regional and minority languages normal in everyday life, not just at home but also in public and before state institutions. Their regular use will contribute to their preservation and development. This is equally important for big and small languages, whether spoken by several million people or just a few hundred. However, one of the most important contributions of the Charter is awareness-raising in states parties about their rich cultural heritage contained in their regional and minority languages and the cultures they reflect. It is ultimately the responsibility of the majority to protect and promote these languages. More...