CENSURA DI E LINGUE REGIUNALE - Article

Langues régionales : des rapporteurs spéciaux de l'ONU interpellent la France sur l'enseignement immersif

Par: M.A

Publié le: 04 juillet 2022 à 17:09

Dans: Politique / Société / EducationLesNewsEnFrance

Les rapporteurs estiment que cette décision du Conseil constitutionnel contredit des traités internationaux signés par la France.Les rapporteurs estiment que cette décision du Conseil constitutionnel contredit des traités internationaux signés par la France.
Florent Selvini

Dans un courrier daté du 31 mai 2022 repéré par nos confrères de Ouest-France, trois rapporteurs spéciaux du Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies aux droits de l'homme écrivent au gouvernement français sur la décision prise par le Conseil constitutionnel au sujet de l'enseignement des langues régionales. La lettre est signée par Fernand de Varennes, rapporteur spécial sur les questions relatives aux minorités, Alexandra Xanthaki, rapporteuse spéciale dans le domaine des droits culturels et Koumbou Boly Barry, rapporteuse spéciale sur le droit à l'éducation.

Les signataires reviennent sur le choix effectué par le Conseil constitutionnel le 21 mai de censurer deux articles de la loi relative à la protection patrimoniale des langues régionales et à leur promotion, dite loi Molac, qui avait été adoptée par le Parlement le 8 avril : "La décision du Conseil constitutionnel établit l'inconstitutionnalité de l'enseignement immersif dans une autre langue que le français et de l'utilisation de signes diacritiques des langues régionales dans les actes d'état civil", écrivent les rapporteurs.

Une décision qui peut, selon eux, "porter atteinte à la dignité, à la liberté, à l'égalité et à la non-discrimination ainsi qu'à l'identité des personnes de langues et de cultures historiques minoritaires de France".

Un choix à l'opposé de traités internationaux ratifiés par la France

Les rapporteurs estiment que cette décision contredit des traités internationaux signés par la France comme le pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques, la convention internationale sur les droits de l'enfant et le pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels. Ils citent par exemple l'article 29 de la convention internationale sur les droits de l'enfant qui stipule que l'éducation doit viser à "inculquer à l'enfant le respect de ses parents, de son identité, de sa langue et de ses valeurs culturelles, ainsi que le respect des valeurs nationales du pays dans lequel il vit, du pays duquel il peut être originaire et des civilisations différentes de la sienne."

Fernand de Varennes, Alexandra Xanthaki, et Koumbou Boly Barry terminent leur courrier en demandant des informations supplémentaires sur le choix du Conseil constitutionnel, notamment "sur le risque de traitement différentiel entre la langue anglaise d'une part, et les langues minoritaires de France d'autre part".

Minorities in all regions of the world continue to face serious threats, discrimination and racism, and are frequently excluded from taking part fully in the economic, political and social life of their countries. Today, minority communities face new challenges, including legislation, policies and practices that may unjustly impede or even violate minority rights. The outcome document of the 2005 World Summit of Heads of State and Government, approved by the General Assembly, notes that “the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities contributes to political and social stability and peace and enriches the cultural diversity and heritage of society”.

Respect for minority rights assists in achieving stable and prosperous societies, in which human rights, development and security are achieved by all, and shared by all.

The dynamics of majority/minority relationships lead to the emergence of a range of minority issues which provide challenges and opportunities for States and societies as a whole. Such issues, in all spheres of life, are identified and articulated both by minorities and by States seeking to manage diverse societies. Within this wider context of minority issues, the normative framework provided by minority rights should be understood as a necessary element to ensure integrated societies and to promote social inclusion and cohesion. In such societies, various national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups are able to live confidently together, practice their religions, speak their own languages and communicate effectively, recognizing value in their differences and in their society’s cultural diversity.

Mandate

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues was established in resolution 2005/79 by the Commission on Human Rights on 21 April 2005. The mandate was subsequently renewed by the Human Rights Council in its resolutions 7/6 of 27 March 2008, 16/6 of 24 March 2011, 25/5 of 28 March 2014 and 34/6 of 23 March 2017. Resolution 34/6 renews the mandate under the same terms as provided by resolution 25/5.

In resolution 25/5 the Human Rights Council extended the mandate as Special Rapporteur on minority issues for a period of three years and requests the mandate holder:

(a) To promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, including through consultations with Governments, taking into account existing international standards and national legislation concerning minorities;

(b) To examine ways and means of overcoming existing obstacles to the full and effective realization of the rights of persons belonging to minorities;

(c) To identify best practices and possibilities for technical cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, at the request of Governments;

(d) To apply a gender perspective in his/her work;

(e) To cooperate and coordinate closely, while avoiding duplication, with existing relevant United Nations bodies, mandates and mechanisms and with regional organizations;

(f) To take into account the views of and cooperate closely with nongovernmental organizations on matters pertaining to his/her mandate;

(g) To guide the work of the Forum on Minority Issues, prepare its annual meetings, to report on its thematic recommendations and to make recommendations for future thematic subjects, as decided by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 19/23;

(h) To submit an annual report on his/her activities to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly, including recommendations for effective strategies for the better implementation of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities;

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur complements and enhances the work of other UN bodies and mechanisms that address minority rights and minority issues, including the Forum on Minority Issues.

Current mandate holder

Fernand de Varennes

Fernand de Varennes is Extraordinary Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Pretoria (South Africa), Adjunct Professor at the National University of Ireland-Galway (Ireland), and Cheng Yu Tung Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong (China). He was appointed United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues by the Human Rights Council and assumed his functions on 1 August 2017.

Read Fernand de Varennes's full biography

Methods of work

In carrying out his mandate, the Special Rapporteur will:

- receive information from diverse sources including States, expert bodies, United Nations agencies, regional and other inter-governmental organizations, NGOs and other civil society organizations. Based on such information, he will issue communications to States concerning implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Minorities, where appropriate;

- submit annual reports on the activities undertaken by the mandate to the Human Rights Council  and General Assembly, including thematic studies on key minority rights issues;

- undertake, at the invitation of Governments, country visits to further constructive consultation with States on minority rights, observe relevant programmes and policies for minorities, register concerns, and identify areas for cooperation. During these visits, the Special Rapporteur will study and provide recommendations on national legislation, policies, regulatory frameworks and institutions and practices related to minorities, in order to promote the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Minorities.