Tag: language learning

Estonian Integration Monitoring 2020 (excerpts on language skills & interethnic relations), 2021

ESTONIAN AND RUSSIAN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY OF ESTONIAN RESIDENTS Compared to 2008, the general Estonian language proficiency of residents of other nationalities has improved. It’s positive that the share of people whose language proficiency is active has increased to 41% (from 32% in 2008): they understand and speak Estonian, and write in it. The share of … Continue reading "Estonian Integration Monitoring 2020 (excerpts on language skills & interethnic relations), 2021"

2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (excerpts), 2020

Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: [..] E. DENIAL OF FAIR PUBLIC TRIAL PROPERTY RESTITUTION The government has laws and mechanisms in place for property restitution, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and advocacy groups reported no issues with the government’s resolution of Holocaust-era claims, including for foreign citizens. [..] Section … Continue reading "2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (excerpts), 2020"

Commissioner’s statement on language policies (excerpts), 2019

Promoting social cohesion through balanced policies on languages [..] The Advisory Committee on the FCNM has consistently emphasised, in respect of a range of countries, including Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and the Russian Federation, that policies on the use of languages should aim to reconcile the needs of different groups of speakers, those of the … Continue reading "Commissioner’s statement on language policies (excerpts), 2019"

Important activities in the 2019/2020 academic year (excerpts), 2020

Summary of performance reports Education [..] 13. While the share of students completing basic education at a Russian language-medium school and having achieved at least level B1 proficiency in Estonian15 has increased as compared with 2011 (56% in 2011; 61% in 2018), reaching the target for 2020 (90%) is not realistic. In order to best … Continue reading "Important activities in the 2019/2020 academic year (excerpts), 2020"

HCNM statement to the 1229th Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council (excerpt), 2019

[..] In Estonia, in addition to launching the Tallinn Guidelines, I engaged with the Government, minority representatives, civil society, and education professionals, both in the capital as well as in Narva. This regional visit complemented my first assessment of Estonia’s minority-related situation, following my first visit to the country in my current capacity in June … Continue reading "HCNM statement to the 1229th Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council (excerpt), 2019"

HRC Concluding observations (excerpt on language), 2019

[..] C.Principal matters of concern and recommendations [..] Rights of minorities 37.While welcoming the measures taken and the progress made with regard to the integration of the Russian-speaking minority, including the improved proficiency in Estonian language, the Committee remains concerned at the remaining gaps (CCPR/C/EST/CO/3, para. 16), particularly those relating to the impact of the … Continue reading "HRC Concluding observations (excerpt on language), 2019"

OHCHR Summary of stakeholders’ information for UPR 2nd round on Estonia (excerpts), 2015

A. Background and framework 1. Scope of international obligations 1. Joint Submission 1(JS1) noted that Estonia was not party to any international instruments dealing specifically with statelessness.2 Human Rights Watch (HRW) recommended that Estonia ratify the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the … Continue reading "OHCHR Summary of stakeholders’ information for UPR 2nd round on Estonia (excerpts), 2015"

ECRI 5th report on Estonia (excerpts on language), 2015

SUMMARY [..] ECRI welcomes these positive developments in Estonia. However, despite the progress achieved, some issues continue to give rise to concern. [..] With regard to integration, Russian-speaking citizens and people of undetermined citizenship have not been sufficiently consulted on the implementation of the Language Act, in particular concerning the acquisition of citizenship. This legislation … Continue reading "ECRI 5th report on Estonia (excerpts on language), 2015"

FCNM Advisory Committee 4th opinion on Estonia (excerpts on language learning and language Inspectorate), 2015

SUMMARY [..] [..] The Language Inspectorate continues to wield wide powers inthe field of employment, including in particular verification of language proficiency and imposition of fines. [..] Recommendations for immediate action: [..] [..] refrain from imposing fines for violations of the Language Act and replace the penalising approach with a policy of positive incentives; [..] … Continue reading "FCNM Advisory Committee 4th opinion on Estonia (excerpts on language learning and language Inspectorate), 2015"