Cardiff woman calls for death certificates to be issued in Welsh

Cardiff woman calls for death certificates to be issued in Welsh

Afryl Davies, a woman from Cardiff, has been navigating a difficult and emotional battle to obtain her husband’s death certificate in Welsh following his passing. Her husband, Aled Glynne Davies, was a strong advocate for the Welsh language, believing that it belonged to everyone, not just native speakers. The couple, who were both fluent Welsh speakers, conducted their lives in Welsh, including registering significant life events bilingually.

After Aled’s death in December 2022, Afryl received an English death certificate despite the inquest being conducted in Welsh. Due to laws dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, certificates in Wales can only be issued bilingually if the registrar is proficient in Welsh. Mrs. Davies expressed her frustration at the system, highlighting the importance of the Welsh language to her family and the wider community in Wales.

Despite facing obstacles in her quest for a Welsh certificate, Afryl remains determined to honor her husband’s legacy and fight for legislative changes. Cardiff West MP, Alex Barros-Curtis, has taken up the cause, advocating for bilingual certificates to be issued by default in Wales. Mrs. Davies’s perseverance has taken her all the way to the High Court, as she continues to push for recognition of the Welsh language in official documents.

The campaign for Welsh language certificates has garnered support from various quarters, including Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru MPs, who are backing Barros-Curtis’s proposed legislation. The proposed law would ensure that birth, marriage, and death certificates issued in Wales are available in Welsh, English, or both, depending on individual preferences. Afryl remains steadfast in her advocacy, determined to secure this fundamental right in memory of her late husband’s commitment to inclusivity and linguistic diversity

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More