International Mother Language Day 2019: opening event at UNESCO HQ

International Mother Language day 2019 theme is: “Indigenous languages matter for development, peace building and reconciliation”.

An opening event will be organized at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

This year, International Mother Language day 2019 will be framed by the International Year of indigenous languages 2019 (IYIL19) around the theme “Indigenous languages matter for development, peace building and reconciliation”.

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is celebrated every year on 21 February with the overall objective to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education.

The opening event will start with speeches by two Permanent Delegates to UNESCO and a Representative of la Francophonie. A short video screening and a UNESCO brief presentation of linkages between the International Year of Indigenous languages and International Mother Language Day will follow. A debate entitled "Languages count" will conclude the event.