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Indigenous languages matter for sustainable development, good governance, reconciliation and peace building in our societies. This publication is built on a Summary report on the International Year of Indigenous Languages, which was released in April 2020. 

Language is one of the fundamental preconditions to human development. People need language to communicate with one another and to transmit from generation to generation the knowledge, ideas, beliefs and traditions that are essential for their recognition, well-being, evolution and peaceful coexistence. 

Despite their immense value, languages around the world are disappearing. This is cause for serious concern, because the disappearance of any single language threatens the entire culture and knowledge system to which it belongs. According to the UN’s Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, no less than 40 per cent of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken in 2016 were in danger of disappearing. Over the past decade there has been a renewed interest in safeguarding linguistic diversity, not only as a vehicle of cultural expression and value transmission, but also as a powerful enabler of inclusive and sustainable development. 

While societies as a whole have a key role to play for the preservation, revitalization and promotion of indigenous languages, indigenous leadership is essential to ensure the development and implementation of effective and sustainable plans, policies and actions.