Audrey Azoulay addressed to the public on the International Mother Language Day

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has addressed to the public on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day.

Audrey Azoulay says that International Mother Language Day is an opportunity to recall UNESCO’s commitment to defending and promoting languages. She mentions that language is far more than a means of communication; it is the very condition of our humanity. Our values, our beliefs and our identity are embedded within it. People transmit their experiences, traditions and knowledge through language. The diversity of languages ​​reflects the incontestable wealth of the societys imagination and ways of life. In order to preserve and vitalize this essential component of the intangible heritage of humanity, UNESCO has been actively engaged for many years in the defense of linguistic diversity and the promotion of multilingual education.

A.Azoulay emphasizes that the mother language is an indispensable vector for inclusion in the human community, first at the local level, then at the global level. UNESCO supports language policies, particularly in multilingual countries, which promote mother languages. The organization recommends the use of these languages from the first years of schooling and encourages their use in public spaces and especially on the Internet.
The full text is available on the UNESCO website: https://en.unesco.org/international-days/international- mother- language-day
The International Mother Language Day was announced at the UNESCO General Conference in 1999 and is annually held to promote cultural diversity and multilingualism.