Indigenous linguistic rights in the Arctic : a human rights approach

Abstract

In using an international human rights approach, this thesis assesses the fulfillment of linguistic rights for indigenous peoples and communities living in seven Arctic states (i.e. Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russian Federation, Canada, USA/Alaska, Denmark/Greenland). The core study of this research is to ask whether the use of an international human rights approach to language rights is best suited to protect the need of Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic. In doing so, this thesis monitors the fulfillment of linguistic rights in three fields which are commonly regarded in several international human rights documents (ICCPR, CRC, ILO 169, UNDRIP, ADRIP) as belonging to realm of basic human rights, namely education, court proceedings, and communication with the authorities. Following a country-specific approach, this thesis concludes that although Arctic indigenous linguistic rights are already enshrined in key legally-binding instruments and in documents, which reflect lex feranda and could lead to legislative improvements, States mostly rely on their own domestic legal systems through they implement the checks and balances that protect linguistic rights.