Leading pro-Welsh language organization Cymdeithas has announced a "campaign of divil disobedience" aimed at forcing the Welsh Government to take further steps for the language. According to Cymdeithas, the Welsh Government has not implemented several measures that the organization proposed six months ago, which included reinforcing education through the medium of Welsh, strengthening the use of the language in government bodies, and allocating more money for language promotion.

The Welsh Government earlier this month announced new measures on the use of language in public bodies. The measures are aimed at stregthening "Welsh language services to citizens", Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said. The measures could be implemented at the end of the year. However, Cymdeithas believes they are insufficient.

The association says that the first "direct actions" will start in February, and will continue throughout the Eisteddfodd youth festival in May.

The decision comes just few days after the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe had advised UK authorities to adopt new measures to promote Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Cornish. Specifically, the Committee of Ministers asks to increase the use of Welsh in health and social care, and wants the UK authorities not to approve budget cuts that could have a "disproportionate effect" on the protection of minorised languages.

(Image: Cymdeithas members hold a banner that reads: "Government of Wales: act".)

[[FitxaGales]]