UNESCO Champions Linguistic Diversity on International Mother MoDay
On International Mother Language Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) underscored the critical role of linguistic diversity in shaping cultural identity and heritage. Celebrated annually, this day honors the approximately 7,000 living languages worldwide, which UNESCO believes are vital for the identity and culture of nations.
To mark the occasion, UNESCO unveiled a new edition of the book What Makes Us Human? translated into Hawaiian, contributing to its collection of over 30 languages. The observance, first proposed by Bangladesh and adopted by UNESCO in 1999, aims to promote cultural and linguistic diversity globally.
UNESCO stresses that safeguarding linguistic diversity fosters tolerance, mutual respect, and global peace. Multilingual societies are essential for the sustainable transmission of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. However, the organization warns that many languages are at risk of extinction, with around 40 percent of the global population lacking access to education in their mother tongue.
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on multilingual education, particularly at the primary level, with various countries committing to enhance its presence in public life and educational systems. Through International Mother Language Day, UNESCO aims to raise awareness about the importance of linguistic diversity and support initiatives to protect endangered languages while expanding mother-tongue education across the globe.
