Lack of money and human resources hinder the implementation of the use of languages of non-majority communities at the local level. This is the general image in the 31 units of local self-government (LSGUs) which use more than one language in official communication, and in which more than 800.000 citizens live. The inhabitants of these municipalities are not aware of the benefits and characteristics of local multilingual policies. None of these LSGUs has specialized translation unit within the LSGU administration.
These are only part of the findings of the public policy study “Local language policies for non-majority communities: possibilities for more effective use” which was presented to the public on April 30th, 2014 at EU Info Centre in Skopje. The Institute for Democracy SOCIETAS CIVILIS Skopje (IDSCS) organized the event as part of the research project “Local language policies for non-majority communities: tools for more effective use” supported by Slovak and Balkan Public Policy Fund. The study is authored by Jovan Bliznakovski, based on the research that IDSCS implemented in the period November 2013-April 2014. The goal of the research project is to inform decision makers and policy makers in LSGUs and national institutions, as well as other stakeholders, on the problems, challenges and successful stories related with the implementation of multilingual policies at the local level. Based on the research findings, the study formulates recommendations for more effective implementation of the right of use of mother tongue of the non-majority communities in official communication. This right is provided with Article 7 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.
On the promotion, the following speakers had their presentations: Jovan Bliznakovski, the author of the study; Mr. Atula Kasumi, state advisor in the Secretariat for Implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement (SIOFA); and Nenad Makovikj, PhD, Assistant professor at the Faculty of Law “Iustinianus Primius”. The discussion was moderated by Vladimir Misev, president of IDSCS. Jovan Bliznakovski presented the main findings and recommendations, while Nenad Markovikj gave a review of the study. Atula Kasumi presented the activities of SIOFA in the sphere of the use of languages of the non-majority communities.
The study can be downloaded in Macedonian, Albanian and English language.