At a conference Wednesday [18 June 2008] marking the 10^th anniversary of the Oslo Recommendations on the Linguistic Rights of National Minorities, OSCE High Commissioner Knut Vollebaek called on states to protect language rights and said they were “a precondition for peace and stability.”

States should not promote one language at the expense of another, he said in a press release.

Vollebaek continued, “‘such thinking is harmful not just to minorities but also to majorities.  When a majority demands mindless obedience and submission from a minority, this is usually regarded as subjugation and increases the chances of that majority not being respected.’”

The Leadership Council for Human Rights applauds Vollebaek for his efforts to protect this fundamental human right.

Click here for the full OSCE release.