International Decade of Indigenous Languages

International Decade of Indigenous Languages

logo of IDIL
Duration	2022-2032
Location	Globally
Also known as	IDIL 2022-32
Theme	Preserving, Revitalizing and Promoting Indigenous Languages
Website	idil2022-2032.org

International Decade of Indigenous Languages is an initiative launched by the United Nations ^{[1] [2]} with a mission to raise awareness on Indigenous language preservation, revitalization and promotion. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]} The initiative is launched as per the suggestion from the Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues, the UN general assembly has declared the decade starting from 2022 to 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]}

Background

The Decade was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/74/135, ^{[12] [13] [14]} following the success of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages. ^{[15] [16]} UNESCO leads the implementation of the Decade, in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and other UN agencies. ^[17] The initiative builds on concerns about the fact that nearly 40 percent of the world’s estimated 6,700 spoken languages are endangered, with the majority being indigenous. ^{[18] [19]}

Objectives

The main objectives of IDIL 2022–2032 are to:

• Promote and protect indigenous languages and improve the lives of those who speak and sign them. ^{[20] [21]}
• Ensure indigenous peoples’ right to preserve, revitalize, and promote their languages, recognizing linguistic diversity as a pillar of sustainable development. ^{[22] [23]}
• Foster international cooperation among governments, organizations, academic institutions, and indigenous communities for language preservation. ^{[24] [25]}
• Mainstream indigenous languages and multilingualism into global policy discussions and development agendas

See also

• International Year of Indigenous Languages
• Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
• International Mother Language Day
• Language revitalization
• Endangered language
• Lists of endangered languages

References

1. McVeigh, Karen (2023-01-16). "Lost for words: fears of 'catastrophic' language loss due to rising seas". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-08-25.
2. Staff, M. N. D. (2022-01-04). "Indigenous languages support seen as low priority for federal government". Mexico News Daily. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
3. Saini, Ajay (2023-02-23). "INTERVIEW | Anvita Abbi: 'Indigenous languages being killed'". Frontline. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
4. "Promoting Endangered Languages with AI". IBM Research. 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
5. Languages, Office of The Commissioner of Indigenous. "Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages Announces WAVES 2025: Global Indigenous Languages Summit". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
6. "The VGGTs are available in indigenous languages". IndigenousPeoples. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
7. "International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022 – 2032 | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)".
8. "UN launches 10-year survival plan for indigenous languages at risk". 17 December 2022.
9. Heritage, Canadian (2022-02-21). "International Decade of Indigenous Languages". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
10. "G20 Radio Bulletin 93 - Indigenous languages may face extinction within the next 20 years". www.gov.br. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
11. Broguet, Chloe (2024-04-17). "UNESCO Publishes Motorola and Lenovo Foundation's White Paper on Digital Inclusion of Indigenous Languages". Lenovo StoryHub. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
12. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n19/426/26/pdf/n1942626.pdf
13. Souder, Laura M. Torres (2022-02-20). "Mes CHamoru, Mother Language Day and the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages". The Guam Daily Post. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
14. "Indigenous language, mother tongue advocates converge in Caraga". Philippine Information Agency. 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
15. Satish, Swathi (2024-01-23). "Endangered Languages of India - ClearIAS" . Retrieved 2025-08-25.
16. admin (2022-12-19). "Global Blog | Motorola and Lenovo Foundation announce next phase of endangered indigenous languages revitalization initiative at UNESCO HQ". Global Blog. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
17. "UN selects Indian Catholic to represent Asia's indigenous languages- UCA News". ucanews.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
18. "Technology will define next decade of languages: CIIL Director". The Hindu. 2023-02-21. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-08-25.
19. Nations, United. "Background - International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples". United Nations. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
20. "International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022 – 2032 - American Association For Applied Linguistics". www.aaal.org. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
21. "About the IDIL2022-2032". 2022 - 2032 International Decade of Indigenous Languages. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
22. "International Decade of Indigenous Languages". First Languages Australia. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
23. "Higher education has a crucial role to play in reaching out to Indigenous communities". THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect. 2022-09-05. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
24. "1,500 endangered languages could disappear by the end of the century". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 2025-06-26. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
25. "Putting words into action to safeguard Indigenous languages | Ministers' media centre". ministers.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-08-25.

External links

• International Decade of Indigenous Languages official website
• International Decade of Indigenous Languages UNESCO webpage