Multilingualism at the United Nations: Selected Resources

This research guide compiles resources about multilingualism at the United Nations and links to UN websites and databases with multilingual information on the work of the Organization.

Learn more about UN official languages: History ; UN Language days

Photo credits: UN photo.

• UN languages observances

• 21 February:  International Mother Language Day
  Proclaimed by UNESCO in November 1999.

• 23 September: International Day of Sign Languages
  Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution A/RES/72/161 of 19 Dec. 2017. The resolution has been translated in International Sign language (Source: World Federation of the Deaf).

• 30 September: International Translation Day
  Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution A/RES/71/288 on 24 May 2017.

• 2008: International Year of Languages

• 2019: International Year of Indigenous Languages
  Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution A/RES/71/178 on 19 December 2016.
  Indigenous Languages and Knowledge is the focus of UNESCO Courier's first issue in 2019.