Åpningsinnlegg på OSSE-konferanse om nasjonale minoriteter

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, friends

It’s an honour for me to speak here today. 

I can hardly think of any single matter that affects individuals, peoples and cultures as directly and as profoundly as language.

Language is culture. And language is power.

World music artist Mari Boine – of Sami origin – has told the story of how she grew up learning to see Sami language as a source of shame. Of inferiority.  It was only in her mid-twenties and through music she was able to explore this language and was able to direct her anger against the shame she had carried in her heart during childhood.

“It was like a volcano inside me”, she coined the sudden experience of cultural and historic belonging.

Language can be an efficient tool of suppression. Think of Afrikaans in South Africa. Think of Sri Lanka where one of the underlying causes of today’s conflict was the denial of the linguistic rights of one of the ethnic groups.

Think of native americans being forced to use only English in boarding schools. And think of Sami school children being forced to speak Norwegian and denied the right to communicate in the only language spoken by their parents.

Denial of linguistic rights can be a violation of the right to live without discrimination. It infringes the right to freedom of expression. And it can result in a denial of the right to freedom of religion.

It is therefore not surprising that language issues are at the core of many conflicts in today’s world, both between states and within states.

Because language is a conveyor of culture, of tradition and of religion.

So, obviously, language can be a tool of exclusion, a means of extinguishing cultures.

Worldwide, languages are said to disappear at a rate of one every second week. This is an alarming indicator of declining cultures.

When a language disappears, so too do knowledge, wisdom and shared experiences. The result is less diversity. Less knowledge. A poorer world – more uniform, less nuanced. And I would add, less human.

But just as language can be a tool of suppression, it is also an essential source of empowerment – intertwined as it is with culture, traditions, history, identity and self-respect.

The Oslo Recommendations Regarding the Linguistic Rights of National Minorities are based on the conviction that self-respect and knowledge of history and cultural inheritance is an essential building block for integration.

To put it simply: you need to know yourself before you can get to know others. And you need to respect yourself before you are able to respect others.

The Recommendations strike the balance between the right to retain a minority language and the need to master the official language of the country in question. For this to work, the minority should be prepared to learn and use the official language, normally the language of the majority. At the same time, the majority must accept the linguistic rights of persons belonging to minorities.

Integration, therefore, involves responsibilities and rights on both sides.

Being able to speak the language of the majority is important for inclusion. A shared language is a bridge to understanding. It is a matter of communication – of dialogue.

However, a bridge needs a solid foundation – otherwise it will collapse. In the same way we need to know ourselves in order to be able to understand others. The common language thus needs to rest upon respect for cultural and linguistic inheritance.

It was precisely in response to this twofold challenge that the Oslo Recommendations Regarding the Linguistic Rights of National Minorities were developed.

And let me add, that today we face new challenges as our societies are becoming increasingly diverse. In my own country we used to know two mother tongues – Norwegian and Sami. Through the recent years tens and tens of new mother tongues of new members of our society are posing new challenges on us. On how we ensure empowerment through language for all.

There are many examples of language requirements preventing people from certain communities from being able to enjoy their right to equal opportunity.

Yesterday, you heard how members of the Sami minority in Norway were not allowed to own land because they did not master the Norwegian language. Moreover, their tradition of not using surnames was not recognised by the majority population or the state. This clearly infringed on their rights to earn a livelihood and to own property.

However, the policies of forced integration have long since been replaced by policies that focus on the rights of the Sami people to speak and write their own language. The Sami Act gives people in the municipalities in the Sami language districts the right to communicate in Sami with the public authorities in this district, if necessary by means of an interpreter. This and other rights are important steps in the right direction.

In the Western world, monolingualism has often been portrayed as the normal state of affairs. In reality, however, most people in the world are bi- or multilingual. In today’s Europe, regional and minority languages are now seen as a natural and central part of the continent’s cultural heritage. In-depth knowledge of two or more languages has proved to have a number of positive consequences.

Therefore, Europe’s minority languages and bilingualism in general are resources to be encouraged and developed for the benefit of both the individual and society at large.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to take this opportunity to dwell on an issue which is close to my heart: freedom of expression. It forms the backbone of our culture and democratic traditions.

Language is our main tool for exercising freedom of expression.

This week we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the poet Henrik Wergeland here in Norway. Henrik Wergeland, who only lived to the age of 37, holds a very special place in Norwegian hearts, and in our literature, history and society. 

Throughout his life, Wergeland fought untiringly for tolerance between religions, freedom through knowledge and education, and equality between nations and social classes.

He knew the value of freedom of expression and the press, which he called “the most precious diamond in the people’s diadem”.

He understood that respect for the capabilities of every human being cannot be envisaged without freedom of expression.

He knew that a world free of discrimination, corruption, persecution and suppression – can only be possible where there is freedom of expression.

Friends,

In all democratic countries, access to information is a basic, institutionalised right. Free and open communication and exchange of differing views is a prerequisite for a tolerant and peaceful society.

At the same time, we must not lose sight of the fact that we live together in a globalised world. In this “global village” we frequently find that what some people consider harmless and amusing, others find deeply offensive.

It is clear that freedom of expression cannot be exercised in isolation, without taking other human rights into account. It has to be balanced with respect for the diversity of our multicultural world. This will continue to be a challenge for all of us.

Today, dialogue between peoples, generations, countries and religions is essential. To misquote Shakespeare: to talk or not to talk, that is the question. When to talk, how to talk, and how to find common ground to get started. And we could add: Which language should we speak? And how should we use this language?

It is not about imposing self-censorship. It is about respecting the person you disagree with.

And neither is it about giving up your opinions or principles. Dialogue means listening to what the other person is saying and trying to learn something new. Even about yourself.

We need to make the case that freedom of expression is an essential value that bridges different cultures and languages, and geographical, political and religious divides.

So, why is the OSCE so well placed to deal with these issues?  

Firstly, because it is the world's largest regional security organisation. And it is founded on respect for international law and human rights.

Secondly, because its core mandate is conflict-prevention.

Thirdly, because it emphasises democratic standards. I am again pleased to acknowledge the methodology developed by the ODIHR to monitor elections. This methodology is internationally recognised as the “gold standard”. Let us make good use of it.

Fourthly, because it emphasises civil society. In addition to the formal democratic rights belonging to each citizen, a democracy needs a vibrant civil society. NGOs are indispensable contributors to the functioning of our democracies. And they are an integral part of our work in the OSCE. This role must be maintained. The moral strength of a government should be judged by its readiness to respect the pluralism of civil society.

And finally, because it is engaged in a broad range of missions and field operations across the region.

Friends,

The High Commissioner on National Minorities plays an important role in fostering peace and respect within OSCE member states. With a mandate of conflict prevention, the High Commissioner’s efforts in safeguarding the right of members of national minorities to protect and develop their languages are decisive.

We all know that cultural exchange can counteract stereotyped images. It can prevent or reduce prejudice, racism and xenophobia. It can foster mutual awareness and understanding.

To put it plainly: cultural encounters can – and do – build bridges.

Education has a vital role to play. Education should promote values of tolerance and mutual understanding, and should provide children with the necessary skills to live and thrive in multi-ethnic and multilingual societies. Appropriate educational policies can play a fundamental role in achieving these aims.

And we should be as concrete as possible in our efforts aimed at minority populations. Allow me to use Georgia as an example. Here, the High Commissioner for National Minorities supports the activities of “language houses” that provide free national language lessons for national minority communities. The funding of these has recently been taken over by the Georgian Government. One cannot demand knowledge of the national language without investing in it.

With the High Commissioner taking the lead, we have gained considerable experience of what works – of the “dos” and the “don’ts”. Let us continue to build on and expand our experience and efforts in this field.

In closing, I would like to thank the organisers of this conference. Ten years have passed since the Oslo Recommendations Regarding the Linguistic Rights of National Minorities were endorsed.

Norway will continue to support the OSCE, the High Commissioner on National Minorities, the Council of Europe and others in this very important area.

Thank you.