UN official urges redoubled efforts to protect indigenous languages

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, August 10, 2019
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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The whole world should "redouble efforts to promote and protect indigenous languages for future generations," UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin said here on Friday.

At a forum to mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, which falls on August 9, Liu said, "indigenous cultures enrich the world's cultural diversity, and therefore, there is an urgent need to redouble efforts to promote and protect indigenous languages for future generations."

"We encourage members states to continue to do so by recognizing indigenous languages and supporting their inclusion in the educational system so that indigenous children can learn in their mother tongues, which might facilitate learning and preserve, protect indigenous languages," Liu said.

As part of the commemoration, the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch - Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations organized the forum, bringing together indigenous peoples' organizations, UN agencies, Member States, civil society and relevant stakeholders.

The Day was celebrated around the world to mark the date of the inaugural session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations at the United Nations in 1982.

"We hope, this Day will raise attention of the need to revitalize indigenous languages as part of the rich diversity of the world, and that it will also catalyse all stakeholders, to accelerate action to develop and protect indigenous languages around the world," the senior UN official said.

As part of the celebration, which aims to highlight the critical need to revitalize, preserve, and promote indigenous languages and share good practices through expert and interactive panel, creative initiatives and videos on indigenous languages were also shown at the United Nations visitor's lobby. Enditem

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