Peru: PCM reiterates commitment to work for well-being of indigenous peoples

"Today we commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples by highlighting the crucial role they play in the preservation and transmission of ancestral knowledge," the government agency said on Twitter.

"The PCM reiterates its commitment to continue working for their well-being," it added.

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples was established by the United Nations on 23 December 1994, during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.

Peru is home to 55 indigenous peoples, who speak 48 indigenous languages. Recognizing and appreciating them is part of the policies to promote diversity, interculturality, and social inclusion.

All native languages (four are native to the Andes: Quechua and its variants, as well as Aymara; while 44 are native to the Amazonia) are an expression of a collective identity and of a distinct way of perceiving and describing reality. Therefore, they enjoy the conditions required for their preservation and development in all functions.

In addition to Spanish, native languages are official in the communities, districts, provinces, or regions where they are predominant.

According to the 2017 National Censuses (XII National Population Census, VII National Housing Census, and III Indigenous Communities Census), the indigenous or native language with the largest number of speakers nationwide is Quechua; while Loreto is the region with the largest number of indigenous or native languages historically spoken by its population, totaling 29 languages.

(END) JCC/RMB/MVB