Language Report discusses the realisation of linguistic rights

NordenBladet — In its Plenary Session today, on 9 December, the Government decided to submit the Government Report on the Application of Linguistic Rights to Parliament. The Language Report, compiled during each electoral term, contains up-to-date information on the situation in Finland in terms of languages, structures supporting linguistic rights and the impact of administrative changes on language groups.The main themes of the Language Report of 2021 are digitalisation and the realisation of linguistic rights in teaching, in the police and rescue services and in emergency response centre activities. An analysis of how linguistics rights are realised when a private operator carries out public tasks is also included.– Linguistic rights are fundamental rights and they are well protected by law. However, there are still shortcomings in how the rights are being realised in practice. To make sure that these rights are duly respected we need better awareness, changes in attitudes, more staff with adequate language skills and ways to organise services in different languages, says Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson.– Key questions in the Language Report include the differences in access to services in Finnish and Swedish and supply and proper functioning of interpretation services. Safeguarding linguistic rights should be taken into account already when planning the operations so that they are put to practice as part of the regular service process, Minister Henriksson continues. Adequate information on the needs and good planning and design of the services are seen as the key measures to ensure the realisation of linguistic rights.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi