Hizkuntza eskubideak bermatzeko protokoloaren aurkezpena = PGDL. Presentación del protocolo para la garantía de los derechos lingüísticos = PGLR. Presentation of the protocol to ensure language rights = PGDL. Présentation du protocole pour la garantie des droits linguistiques

The Protocol to Ensure Language Rights was presented in San Sebastian, during a modest and moving event. The Protocol was a project promoted by the Council and the San Sebastian 2016 Foundation. The Kursaal Auditorium was full in an event that alternated music, dance and speeches. Aureli Argemí and Maria do Pilar Garcia were the first ones to speak. 20 years ago, both participated in the process to create the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights in Barcelona, and they remembered that moment in the event. Xabi Paya, director of DSS2016EU’s cultural programme, explained that the San Sebastian Protocol is an important milestone in the path towards multilingual coexistence in Europe and that, thanks to projects like this Protocol, San Sebastian’s contribution to the European identity regarding the sustainable management of linguistic diversity will be well remembered in the history of European Capitals of Culture. Joan Mari Torrealdai, member of the Academy of the Basque Language, spoke next, and explained the difficulties that the Basque language has had to overcome for the past centuries and up until now. Afterwards, various Basque and international agents took the stage and, with the Protocol in their hands, they all took a group picture, and with that Protocol from now on, returning to their language communities with the hope of creating a more diverse, fair and equal Europe. The event ended with all the protagonists singing Mikel Laboa’s ‘Txoria txori’.