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About the IDIL2022-2032

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  • About the IDIL2022-2032

Rationale of the IDIL2022-2032

An International Decade is an important cooperation mechanism dedicated to raising awareness on a particular topic or theme of global interest or concern, and mobilizing different players for coordinated action around the world.

In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming the period of 2022-2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, based on a recommendation by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The proclamation of the IDIL2022-2032 is a key outcome of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL2019).

In 2016, the Permanent Forum stated that 40 per cent of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world were in danger of disappearing. The fact that most of these are indigenous languages puts the cultures and knowledge systems to which they belong at risk.

In addition to this, Indigenous peoples are often isolated both politically and socially in the countries they live in, by virtue of geographical remoteness or historical, cultural, and linguistic differences. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the marginalization of Indigenous peoples around the world, having a negative impact on the world’s linguistic diversity.

And yet, indigenous peoples are not only leaders in protecting the environment, but their languages represent complex systems of knowledge and communication, and should be recognized as a strategic national resource for sustainable development, peacebuilding and reconciliation.

The use of indigenous languages also works to promote local cultures, customs and values which have endured for thousands of years. Indigenous languages add to the rich tapestry of global cultural diversity. Without them, the world would be a poorer place.

Building on the good practices and lessons learned through the IYIL2019, the IDIL2022-2032 will help promote and protect indigenous languages and improve the lives of those who speak them. It will contribute to achieving the objectives set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

The celebration is also expected to strengthen and reinforce the many standard-setting tools adopted by the international community, including specific provisions to promote and protect languages.

Links

UN proclamation of IDIL2022-2032 (A/RES/74/135)

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)

UNESCO Indigenous Peoples

Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger

UNESCO Linguistic diversity and multilingualism on Internet

Inter-Agency Support Group (IASG) on Indigenous Issues

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Global Call for Action

The Global Action Plan of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages provides a strategic framework, outlines major actions, and guides the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities for UN-system entities, national governments, Indigenous peoples’ organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector

The Global Action Plan calls for a coherent approach and for joint collaborative action on the part of all stakeholders to achieve maximal positive impact and social change with respect to Indigenous languages and those who speak and sign them.

It lays the groundwork for joint action and has been developed to serve as a guiding framework for all stakeholders to prepare regional, national, local and/or institutional plans, adjusted to identified priorities and specificities, for the implementation of the IDIL2022-2032.

The Global Action Plan is structured around four main parts, in addition to technical annexes:

  1. The Introduction provides background information on the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingualism for societal development, and draws attention to the critical situation of Indigenous languages around the world. It also provides a rationale for undertaking immediate action to preserve, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages.
  2. The second section outlines the Theory of Change that defines the vision and impact statements for the International Decade and provides a methodology for all involved stakeholders to guide their participation, as well as their planning, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring processes during the International Decade. This section also presents activities, outputs and outcomes, and highlights linkages with other global development frameworks.
  3. The third section presents the Implementation Framework, including the multi-stakeholder partnership mechanism, timeframe, key milestones, as well as governance and coordination frameworks for the IDIL 2022-2032. It also introduces other strategic frameworks developed to support the implementation of the Global Action Plan, namely a Resource Mobilization Strategy and a Global Communication Strategy.
  4. The fourth section is focused on Monitoring and Evaluation and provides a set of measures to support the continuous assessment of the progress made.
  5. The technical annexes include lists of used terms, key documents, frameworks, a roadmap towards the Global Action Plan, and a summary table of the theory of change.
Global Action Plan
See the abridged version of the Global Action Plan
National Action Plans

Governance

UNESCO
IDIL2022-2032 Secretariat
Global Task Force

Founding principles

  • Involvement of indigenous peoples’ representatives
  • Human rights-based approach
  • Geographical balance
  • Gender equality
  • Disability inclusiveness
  • Expertise in field of languages
  • The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a major milestone, but it will not succeed without the support of people everywhere.

Partnerships

Resource Mobilization Strategy

The Resource Mobilization Strategy will provide a comprehensive framework for securing adequate, sustainable and flexible funding to deliver Indigenous language-related programmes and projects in cooperation with a range of partners, including through the establishment of a multi-donor funding mechanism.

It is expected that the Resource Mobilization Strategy will contribute to a long-lasting social and attitudinal change towards Indigenous languages, a re-evaluation and revision of funding priorities for relevant schemes and programmes, together with an appropriate prioritization of funds.

The Strategy will also provide tools for resource mobilization, strengthening a disciplined approach to partnerships and innovation management.

 

Benefits of supporting the IDIL

By becoming a partner of IDIL2022-2032, stakeholders, including governments, public organizations, academia, UN-system entities and other intergovernmental organizations, as well as the private sector, Indigenous people, civil society, and the media, will not only contribute to the success of a worthy cause, but also enjoy the benefits of being a part of an initiative that reaches a worldwide audience.

Partners can choose to collaborate with UNESCO and other stakeholders and engage with international, national or local Indigenous groups, Indigenous peoples, media and other actors.

They can also decide to create events or come up with new activities based on the suggested categories. This could be anything from organizing a cultural, information-sharing or promotional events to sponsoring an official activity, or promoting IDIL2022-2032 through the partners’ communication channels and activities.

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You can contribute to the success of the IDIL2022-2032

Actions taken during IDIL2022-2032 are intended to focus global attention on the critical risks confronting Indigenous languages and help improve both their chances of survival and the lives of those who speak them.

How to partner

  • Co-organize cultural, information sharing and promotional events in the context of the IDIL2022-2032

  • Sponsor official events, activities and projects

  • Provide know-how, human resources, equipment, tools and other facilities in support of the IDIL2022-2032

  • Promote the IDIL2022-2032 through your communication channels and activities

 

 

Donate!

We recognize that many partners can provide significant in-kind support and may wish to target sponsorship for specific events or activities. Our tailor-made partnership opportunities are adaptable to the needs and preferences of contributors, as long as the value of the in-kind support, or combined value of financial contributions and in-kind support, substantially adds to the end value accruing to the International Decade.

 

 

Why support IDIL

Through engaging in the International Decade, partners from the public and private sectors will benefit from worldwide visibility and association with the values of the United Nations in a truly global initiative, offering unique networking opportunities including:

  • Being involved in a multi-stakeholder partnership global initiative and being a part of the Global Agenda

  • Contributing to positive social change with your knowledge, expertise and corporate solutions

  • Gaining privileged and customized access to UNESCO’s knowledge resources, expert analysis and global networks

  • Supporting society through your organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme

  • Profiling your best practices, promoting your engagement and commitment, and raising your international profile

  • Creating strategic business alliances with other partner private and public entities and networking with influencers across all sectors of society

  • Enhancing your visibility on the international scene and providing opportunities for expanded markets and greater economic return

 

Register your expression of interest

Key documents of the IDIL2022-2032

Global Action Plan for the IDIL2022-2032

The Global Action Plan aims to ensure international cooperation and joint and coordinated action of all stakeholders at all levels. The Global Action Plan provides relevant stakeholders with a strategic framework, outlining major actions and guidelines for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities for UN-system entities, national governments, indigenous peoples’ organizations, civil society, academia, the private sector and other to achieve the key objectives of the IDIL2022-2032. The Global Action Plan lays out the principles and guiding actions in the framework of the Decade and beyond, as well as outputs, outcomes and expected impact of the activities to be undertaken.

The Global Action Plan builds on the outcomes of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, presented in the Strategic Outcome Document (UNESCO General Conference 40/68); the Los Pinos Declaration [Chapoltepek] – Making a Decade of Action for Indigenous Languages, Outcome document of the High-level closing event of the IYIL2019 on 27-28 February 2020, Mexico City, Mexico; the Evaluation of UNESCO’s Action to revitalize and promote indigenous languages within the framework of the International Year of Indigenous Languages (Ref.: UNESCO, 2021 IOS/EVS/PI/194), and the consultations carried out in cooperation with indigenous peoples, Member States, academia, civil society, other public and private partners, and UN system entities.

Following the consultations, a finalized version of the Global Action Plan was submitted to the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference.

 

IYIL2019 Documents

Los Pinos Declaration [Chapoltepek] – Making a Decade of Action for Indigenous Languages

Strategic outcome document of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages

Summary report on the International Year of Indigenous Languages, 2019 (E/C.19/2020/9)

Evaluation Report of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages

Action plan for organizing the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages

Other