Official launch event of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages (Ref.: 71/178) in order to raise global attention on the critical risks confronting indigenous languages and its significance for sustainable development, reconciliation, good governance and peacebuilding.

The celebration in 2019 will contribute to the access to, and promotion of, indigenous languages and to a concrete improvement in the lives of indigenous peoples by strengthening the capacities of indigenous language speakers and relevant indigenous peoples’ organizations.

This official launch event is co-organized by UNESCO, UNDESA, and the members of the Steering Committee for organization of the International Year, as well as with the participation of other relevant stakeholders. The official launch event aims is to provide a global forum for a constructive debate in which high-level speakers, prominent expert on address new paradigms for safeguarding, promoting and providing access to knowledge and information for the indigenous languages’ users.

UNESCO, in the capacity of the leading UN agency of the International Year of Indigenous Languages, and in cooperation with Member States, indigenous peoples’ organizations, academic, and other public and private partners, as well as UNDESA and other UN-system organizations, will organize the Official Global Launch event of the 2019 International Year on Indigenous Languages that will take place from 15.00 p.m. to 18.00 p.m. and cultural programme from 18.15 to 19.00 p.m. on Monday, 28 January 2019 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France (Room II).