Protection of Minority Linguistic Rights from the Perspective of Human Rights

The protection of minority rights and the construction of a multi-ethnic country are two aspects of the same historical process. Language is one of the most prominent characteristics and symbols of an ethnic group. The diversity of languages is also the common wealth of the entire human race. Linguistic rights are an important part of the cultural rights of ethnic minorities. Recognizing and guaranteeing the rights of ethnic minorities to live, study, and work and to enjoy and develop their own culture and language is the significant contents of their rights. The Chinese government has always attached importance to the protection of cultural rights and other rights of ethnic minorities, including language rights. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the National Regional Autonomy Law, and other laws and regulations as well as the National Human Rights Action Plan of China and other policy documents all have relevant provisions, which help to form a harmonious and diverse multi-ethnic development pattern.