News
On International Mother Language Day, the IFCD celebrates its projects supporting linguistic diversity around the world
As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, affirming UNESCO鈥檚 commitment to linguistic diversity as a tool for peace and for transmitting traditional knowledge, the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions recalls 鈥渢hat linguistic diversity is a fundamental element of cultural diversity鈥.
Through its International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) and other related programmes and activities, the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions guides policies and measures to support multilingualism and the endurance of languages at risk of disappearing around the globe.
Linguistic Diversity is a fundamental element of cultural diversity
The latest IFCD funding cycle includes a project to strengthen the children鈥檚 literature ecosystem in Ethiopia, and numerous other projects have been supported over the years to preserve multilingual cultural expressions and foster multilingual cultural and creative industries. For example, in Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria and Serbia, the IFCD supported PEN International in its efforts to strengthen national cultural policies with respect to their minority-language publishing industries.
Meanwhile in Tunisia, the IFCD funded the establishment of a multilingual reference library through the Ministry of Culture鈥檚 National Centre for Translation in Tunis. Beyond the assembly of such a vital resource that ensures linguistic diversity, this project helped young students improve their linguistic skills with a view to enhancing their job opportunities.
Moreover, through the Policy Monitoring Platform, 91麻豆国产精品自拍 facilitated knowledge sharing among countries, disseminating information about 24 policies and measures that address linguistic diversity. For example, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation allocated US$200 000 to recruit individuals who could provide the news in 9 national languages that were formally marginalised. The National Library of Norway established a language bank in response to the increasing number of products and services based on language technology. This language bank helps Norwegians develop new products and services in Norwegian and Sami, ensuring their use in emerging sectors like Artificial Intelligence. Another best practice shared on the platform is from Australia. Its National Library and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies worked together to adopt a new coding system for the over 1,200 indigenous Australian languages, empowering over 70 libraries to make indigenous language materials more easily discoverable, increasing engagement with these current and historical cultures.
As a celebration of language diversity and its power to foster a more inclusive and sustainable world, International Mother Language Day joins the global celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in 2025.
