Udmurt Language Revival and International Language Rights: Submitted in Partial Completion of the Masters of Law in International Human Rights

The motivation of the work is to shed light on one of the minority languages within Russia. Udmurt republic is a federal subject of Russian Federation and located in the eastern part of the Eastern European Plain. The ethnic Udmurts are in minority towards other nationalities living on the territory of the republic such as Russians, Tartars, Mari and others. Few theoretical questions are addressed in the first part of the work. The question of definition of minority and its applicability to Udmurt language, international and European law available. Human rights approach introduced language right, principles of non-discrimination and non-assimilation, educational or cultural rights, “ecological” or” bio-diversity” approaches all given short description. Next part concentrates on implementation of legal tools described in previous part to the actual example of Udmurt language. Short overview of history of republic, geographical, political, socio-economical factors, institutional organisation and its legal systems are described here. The findinsgs are: international language legislation and experiences of other small languages can lead to better practices of language protection.

Alfiya has got History Degree from Udmurt State University specialising in Ethnology and Local History. After obtaining MA Degree in International Human Rights Law from National University of Ireland in Galway she worked with Migrants Rights Centre Ireland. Recently relocated to Sydney and working for Ethnic Child Care Family & Community Services.