K

1
The implementation of the Framework Convention
for the Protection of National Minorities the
experience of Estonia

• Kätlin Saaliste
• Counsellor to Minister for
• Population and Ethnic Affairs
• 29.11.2005

2
Legal background in Estonia

• The Framework Convention for the Protection of
  National Minorities was signed on 2 February 1995
  and it entered into force on 1 of February 1998.
• The first report on the implementation of the
  requirements of the Framework Convention was
  submitted in 1999 and the second report in 2004.

3
Reporting to the Advisory Committee

• Preparing the report to the Advisory Committee
  different parties were included
• Government
• Ministries
• The Presidential roundtable on national
  minorities
• NGOs
• Cultural associations

4
Achievements on protection of national minorities

• certain legislative and administrative steps to
  make the naturalization process more accessible
  and streamlined
• the start of the transfer to Estonian as the main
  language of instruction in upper secondary
  schools in the school year 2007/2008
• initiative to exempt of the elderly citizenship
  applicants from the Estonian language proficiency
  examination

5
Achievements on protection of national minorities

• the language proficiency requirements for
  electoral candidates have been abolished
• legal to use a foreign language in oral
  communications with officials of state agencies
  and local government by agreement of the parties

6
Proposals of the Advisory Committee to protect
national minorities

• the positive measures to speed up and facilitate
  the naturalization process need to be
  strengthened further
• there is a need to intensify the training and
  other efforts to ensure that teachers have
  adequate Estonian language considering the
  educational reform
• the recruitment of persons belonging to national
  minorities in public service

7
Aims and measures to protect national minorities

• Naturalization wide-ranging information
  campaigns, free language courses, consultations,
  aid-materials, organisation of obligatory base
  courses in Estonian history and culture
• Educational reform teacher training, study
  literature, media campaigns

8
Aims and measures to protect national minorities

• Socio-economic aspects together with learning of
  Estonian implementation of labour exchange
  programs, combined employment-language programs
• Support for the ethnic groups improved
  financing mechanisms
• Consumption of media increasing the volume of
  bilingual media programs

9
The new national integration program for 2008-2013

• The new program will be completed by the end of
  2007, when the 1st program expires.
• Cooperation with different ministries, NGOs,
  ethnic organisations, experts.
• Informing the public of the preparation of the
  program to encourage people to express their
  visions about objectives and measures.

10
Thank you for your attention!

• For further comments and questions, please
  contact the Office of Minister for Population and
  Ethnic Affairs in Estonia
• rahmin_at_riigikantselei.ee
• Phone [phone]
• 1 Rahukohtu street, Tallinn
• www.rahvastikuminister.ee