A/HRC/22/49 and qualify for other entitlements relating to languages.25 These should, however, be set at levels that are not restrictive, and flexibility in approaches is preferable. Where significant minority populations are concentrated it is particularly appropriate to ensure that they have opportunities to use their languages in communication with administrative bodies and authorities, but consideration should also be given to the needs of smaller or dispersed language groups that may face unique challenges. 58. Some persons belonging to linguistic minorities may be reluctant to engage with administrative bodies, the police or the judiciary due to their lack of language proficiency, with consequences that may include an inability or reluctance to report discrimination or crimes. Even those proficient in the national language may feel more able to deal with complex administrative issues and engage with legal entities and the courts in their mother tongue. Minorities have reported being denied the opportunity to be assisted, free of charge, by a translator or interpreter where they do not understand or speak the language of the tribunal or court. In practice, solutions include employment of those proficient in minority languages in relevant positions, such as specialist liaison staff for minority communities. Positive practices have been employed by police services in some countries, including community policing methodologies that promote the recruitment of minority officers who speak minority languages and their deployment in minority localities. G. Minority-language use in names, place names and public signs 59. Where minorities constitute a significant proportion of the population or a numerical majority and may have long and established connections with that region, States may decide, in consultation with communities, that public signs and street names may also be in minority languages. Such a practice, where desired by a minority community, can be an important public recognition of the language traditions of a linguistic group. This may be particularly important to long-established communities that seek to encourage public recognition and manifestations of their language, and is evident in minority regions with some form of regional or political autonomy in which minorities are more likely to have decision-making powers. However, in some countries with significant and concentrated minority communities this public recognition is not accorded to minority languages. 60. Decisions as to whether to use public signs in a minority language should be made in consultation with minorities and may best be negotiated at the municipal or local levels. A dual language approach to public signs ensures the rights of other members of the community who do not belong to the linguistic minority; this constitutes a positive practice. In Europe, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities expressly requires that, taking into account their specific conditions, States endeavour ―to display traditional local names, street names and other topographical indications intended for the public also in the minority language when there is a sufficient demand for such indications‖ (art. 11, para. 3). In China, bilingual signs are used in autonomous regions, including Xinjiang and Tibet, where Uighur and Tibetan languages share official status with Chinese. 61. Minorities have the right to name their children in minority languages, and no undue restriction should be placed upon that right or the official recognition of minority names in birth registration or other official documents. Restrictions on the use of certain names or scripts have been reported and constitute a breach of the rights of minority groups to enjoy 25 16 See, for example, the 1999 Law on the Use of Minority Languages of Slovakia, which stipulates that citizens who belong to a national minority must represent at least 20 per cent of the inhabitants of a given municipality in order for them to be permitted to use their minority language in official contacts.