[lg policy] UN criticizes plight of Estonia ’s national minorities

[Harold Schiffman]

UN criticizes plight of Estonia’s national minorities


	
Oct 20, 2010 13:59 Moscow Time

Estonia. © Flickr.com/Claudio.Ar/cc-by-nc-sa 3.0

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has
levelled criticism at the situation around Estonia’s national
minorities, above all as regards the language policy. The news is
reported by the Estonian newspaper Postimees. According to the
periodical, the UN Committee has advised Estonia to cut down on its
language requirements when granting citizenship, especially with
regard to seniors; to revise the functions of the Language Inspection,
known locally as “language inquisition”; and to provide easier access
to free language courses.

The UN experts feel that Estonia’s national minorities are little
involved in the country’s political life and poorly represented in the
national parliament. Russian-speakers account for some 30% of the
Estonian population.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/10/20/27237190.html

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