Legal and constitutional status of Amazigh language in Morocco & North Africa

1. PFII/2008/EGM1/9 Legal and constitutional status of Amazigh language in Morocco & North Africa International Expert Group Meeting on indigenous languages HASSAN ID BALKASSM UNPFII member expert 8 – 10 January 2008, United NationsNew York, New York

2. Structure of the presentation: • Back round • Amazigh movement claims • Negotiations and recognition • Integration of Amazigh language in Educational System • Integration of Amazigh language in the medias • Promotion of Amazigh language in the society • Challenges • Recommendations

3. Back round • Amazigh languages in North Africa • 33 centuries of existence and history • Assimilating policy 1956-61 • Exclusion of Amazigh languages • Emergency of Amazigh movement 1967-80 • Reorganization of cultural resistance (ago) • National, regional and international Amazigh network 1980-1991-1993

4. Amazigh movement’s claims • AGADIR Charter Claims (1991) and Amazigh Manifest (2000) • Legal and constitutional recognition • Democratization of linguistic policy • Linguistic and cultural rights • Integration of Amazigh languages in the educational system • Integration of Amazigh language in the medias • Establishment of institute for Amazigh language

5. Negotiations and recognition • Legal and constitutional recognition • Establishment of High Commissariat for Tamazight on 1993 and legal and constitutional recognition on1996 in Algeria. • Legal and collective recognition 2001(July) and the establishment of Royal Institute for Amazigh Culture in Morocco on 2001 (October) • Partnership convention for Integration of Amazigh languages in education system 2003-2004 • Partnership convention for Integration of Amazigh language in the medias • Partnership conventions with other institutions

6. Integration of Amazigh language in Educational system • New Linguistic policy for Amazigh language in Morocco and Algeria • Adoption of TIFINNAGH (Amazigh writing) and standardization in M /Latin and Arabic in Algeria • Amazigh language for all Moroccan children and for all levels progressively since 2003-2004/in some regions in Algeria • Didactics materials in Amazigh language • Training programs for teachers • New dynamic with mother language in schools

7. Integration of Amazigh language in Educational system • “Tamazight is a national responsibility” : • Amazigh language for all Moroccan children and for all levels progressively since 2003 • Didactics materials in Amazigh language • Training programs for teachers • New dynamic for mother language in schools

8. Integration of Amazigh language in the Media • New Linguistic policy for Amazigh language in the Media • Partnership between IRCAM and Minster of Communication on 2004 :objective 30% of programs in public channels in Amazigh language one Amazigh channel • Convention for a Public Amazigh Channel on 2008 • More time for programs in Amazigh Radio Channel • Programs in Amazigh language in private channel on the Basis of Cahiers des Charges (License) under the High Authority of HACA • Possibility for Amazigh films to be funded.

9. Promotion Of Amazigh language in partnership with NGO • New dynamic for Amazigh language in local, regional and national spaces • Establishment of fund a partnership with Amazigh language for all Moroccan children and for all levels progressively since 2003-2004/in some regions in Algeria • Didactics materials in Amazigh language • Training programs for teachers • New dynamic with mother language in schools

10. Realizations • Educational System • Ancestral writing system TIFINNAGH has become the official Graphic System ; recognized by the ISO-Unicode on June 2004 • Progressive standardization of Amazigh language • Didactic materials elaborated for five levels of the primary • Elaboration of conceptions and programs of training • Sessions of training for teachers every year since 2003 • 2006-2007:sences announced by Educational mini • teachers:9469 • Classes:10641 • Students:298872

11. Challenges • Absence of Constitutional recognition • Human resources insufficient • Education budget is not enough • Absence of the professional training for teachers • Assimilating policy resistance • Absence of Amazigh language in universities and Medias • Need for Amazigh language to be official.

12. Recommendations for Governments and United Nations • Constitutional recognition of IPS languages • Law to use Indigenous peoples languages in the Medias • Laws to integrate IPS languages in Education system • IPS languages in all levels • Establishment of National Institution for standardization of IPS languages • Training institute for teachers • Departments for Indigenous peoples languages in the universities. • Establishment of Indigenous peoples TV channels • Quota for IPS languages in pubic channels • Convention to protect IPS languages, identities and rights

13. Recommendations for the world Conference for the protection of linguistic diversity an Indigenous peoples languages • Objective the Conference: adoption of a declaration and program for action to promote and to protect IPS languages. • Main Areas in the Agenda of the World Conference on linguistic diversity: • Constitutional and juridical status of IPS languages in the world. • Elements for formulation of democratic policy to promote IPs languages. • Teaching IPS languages. • IPS languages in the medias Medias • Date of the world Conference :September 2010 • Where? AGADIR. Morocco. if Morocco accept the King may attend to open the World Conference or send a his representative)