matter for development, peace building and reconciliation
Languages play a crucial role in the daily lives of people, not only as a tool for communication, education, social integration and development, but also as a repository for each person's unique identity, cultural history, traditions and memory. But despite their immense value, languages around the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate. With this in mind, the United Nations declared 2019 The Year of Indigenous Languages (IY2019) in order to raise awareness of them, not only to benefit the people who speak these languages, but also for others to appreciate the important contribution they make to our world's rich cultural diversity.
Towards the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032 !
Flagship Report of the IYIL2019
Global Action Plan of the IDIL2022-2032
Brochure of UNESCO's World Atlas of Languages
COVID-19 Pandemic: Language matters
Tweets by IYIL2019
Why Indigenous Languages?
Unique systems of knowledge and understanding of the world.
Sustainable development, investment, peace building and reconciliation
Fundamental human rights and freedoms for indigenous peoples
Social inclusiveness, literacy, poverty reduction and international cooperation
Cultural values, diversity and heritage
In danger
About IYIL2019
Languages play an important role in the daily lives of all people.
It is through language that we communicate with the world, define our identity, express our history and culture, learn, defend our human rights and participate in all aspects of society, to name but a few. Through language, people preserve their community's history, customs and traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking, meaning and expression. They also use it to construct their future.
Language is pivotal in the areas of human rights protection, good governance, peace building, reconciliation, and sustainable development.
IYIL2019 will promote indigenous languages in these five key areas
1. Increasing understanding, reconciliation and international cooperation.
2. Creation of favourable conditions for knowledge-sharing and dissemination of good practices with regards to indigenous languages.
3. Integration of indigenous languages into standard setting.
4. Empowerment through capacity building.
5. Growth and development through elaboration of new knowledge.
in celebrating 2019 as year of the Indigenous Languages
Main Objectives
Focus global attention on
the critical risks confronting indigenous languages
their significance for sustainable development, reconciliation, good governance and peacebuilding
Target steps that will
improve quality of life
enhance international cooperation
strengthen intercultural dialogue
reaffirm cultural and linguistic continuity
of all stakeholders to take measures that will support, access and promote indigenous languages in accordance with the legitimate rights of the people who speak them
The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Final boundary between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been determined.
Final status of Abyei area is not yet determined.
Map created with Kosmtik
For information contact us.
We hope actions taken during IYIL2019 will generate as much interest and positive change as possible for indigenous languages and those who speak them.
It is with this in mind that we invite you to get involved in making the year a success. The survival and robustness of indigenous languages plays a vital role in the sustainable development of the communities that speak them.
As such, events taking place during IYIL2019 should take into account the three main themes of the year which encompass both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Main Facilitator
With support
In collaboration
Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
UN partners
Governmental partners
Plurinational State of Bolivia
Canadian Commission for UNESCO
Canada Council for the Arts
The People of Japan
Social – Civil society partners
Private Sector Partners
Partners of the IYIL2019 Film Festival
(Latin American and the Caribbean Week at UNESCO)
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a major milestone.
But it will not succeed without the support of people everywhere.