Topic: 2024-Indigenous Languages
Country: Austria
Delegate Name: Matthew Chan
The loss of indigenous languages is a continuing process that has been further accelerated with colonial practices and cultural assimilation. Through history, one finds numerous instances of fringe communities fighting structured oppression that threatens their culture, languages, and self-identity. Languages are a representation of a deeply embedded system of knowledge and heritage developed over generations. It is for this reason fundamentally befitting that such languages be preserved to save global cultures from decline in diversity and richness.
Although Austria itself was never considered to be a colonial power, it enjoys a very special relationship with linguistic pluralism within its borders. The Slovenians, Croats, and Hungarians still speak their languages and practice their culture in Austria. Times of suppression have faced the communities, especially in the early 20th century, from policies of linguistic homogeneity under the Germanic influence suppressing those used by the minorities. A case in point is the Slovenian-speaking minority in Carinthia, which struggled with major limitations placed upon its language use in schools, public administration, and even cultural activity – a general trend in Europe, aimed at making small minorities merge with major nationalities. Recently Austria has tried to take some pain to redress such old grievances.
The 1955 Austrian State Treaty solidified the protection for the Slovene and Croatian minorities and thus guaranteed linguistic and cultural rights. As a result, some provinces have, since then, displayed bilingual roadside posters, minority language schooling, and judicial protection. In addition, Austria also signed onto international mechanisms such as the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in promotion of linguistic diversity in support of these hopeless communities. This is a bigger indication of the commitment by Austria toward inclusion and culture preservation. Despite these steps, problems persist. The situation of minority languages today remains under strong pressure from globalization, urbanization, and limited intergenerational transmission.
Yet, hate speech and structural discrimination in society prove to be serious barriers to their maintenance of their cultural heritage. Austria could go even further: more support for media in minority languages, a wider possibility of bilingual education, and availability to public administrations for speakers of minority languages.
Additionally, Austria supports UN initiatives and principles, such as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, in calling for linguistic inclusion to form a basis of cultural sustainability. The Austrian government feels it is relevant to be aware that the protection of minority languages will be of concern for all of humanity.
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and a severe violation of human rights; it crosses borders and destroys lives. If history can be taken as a guide, starting with the transatlantic slave trade, the exploitation and forced movements of people for labor, sexual abuse, and other purposes have continued into the modern, digital era and have been facilitated by online platforms. Digital connectivity has administered trafficking networks around the globe and presented new challenges to governments worldwide.
