2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages
Languages play a crucially important role in the daily lives of all peoples, with their complex implications for identity, cultural diversity, social integration, communication, education and development. Through languages, people not only embed their history, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking, meaning and expression, but more importantly construct their future. Languages are pivotal in the areas of human rights protection, peace building and sustainable development, through ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. However, despite their immense value, languages around the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate due to a variety of factors. Many of them are indigenous languages.
Indigenous languages in particular are a significant factor in a wide range of other indigenous issues, notably education, scientific and technological development, biosphere and the environment, freedom of expression, employment and social inclusion.