Andina

UN declares 2022-2032 International Decade of Indigenous Languages

17:30 | New York (U.S.), Dec. 19.

The General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) has adopted by consensus the resolution on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, co-sponsored by Peru, which declares 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, the Foreign Affairs Ministry reported on Thursday.

During the closing of the International Year of Indigenous Languages at the UN, the South American country —represented by Permanent Representative Nestor Popolizio— stressed the importance of preserving them, as well as of promoting their development and practice.

In 2016, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution proclaiming 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, based on a recommendation made by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

At that time, the forum indicated that 40% —of the 6,700 languages estimated to be spoken in the world— were in danger of disappearing.

The fact that most of them are indigenous languages puts the cultures and knowledge systems to which they belong at risk, the UN warned.

(END) PBQ/MVB

Published: 12/19/2019